The incident caused turmoil inside the Lakers’ locker room. It only added more anxieties for D’Angelo Russell amid a rookie season already filled with losing, evolving roles and fluctuating performances. But with the old adage that time can heal all wounds, Russell offered some self-deprecation in a recent Foot Locker commercial with an indirect reference toward secretly recording Nick Young admitting to infidelities.
LSU prospect and close friend Ben Simmons asked Minnesota’s Karl Anthony-Towns, Phoenix’s Devin Booker and Russell on advice about thriving in the NBA. With Simmons expected to be the No. 1 pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft, perhaps those players could shed some perspective on their previous rookie seasons.
Towns offered a cliche that “getting drafted doesn’t mean a thing.” Booker added that “nothing comes easy anymore.” Russell simply asked for Simmons’ phone and threw it.
“Trust me,” Russell said.
After all, Russell faced criticism regarding his maturity level and trustworthiness for inadvertently making details about Young’s private life public. Young and his fiancee, Iggy Azalea, also announced this week on social media that they broke up. Even if the Lakers are not expected to keep Young, Russell has acknowledged afterwards the need to earn back his trust.
Yet, the Lakers have offered public support. Russell has expressed contrition. And as his latest commercial suggests, Russell has maintained his sense of humor.
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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com