Los Angeles Lakers: An Ode To Nick Young

 The Failed 360 Reverse Layup Attempt:

There are certain plays in NBA history that every basketball fan will remember until the day they die. Michael Jordan‘s game-winner over the Utah Jazz to seal the 1998 NBA Finals. Ray Allen‘s shot in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals to keep the Miami Heat alive. Larry Bird‘s steal on Isiah Thomas‘ inbounds pass in the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals. Kobe Bryant’s iconic alley-oop to Shaquille O’Neal in Game 7 of the 2000 Western Conference Finals. Some plays will forever be heroic highlights, staples in NBA history.

I humbly nominate Swaggy P’s 360 reverse layup attempt to join the ranks of these classics. Out of every single play I witnessed during the 2013-14 season and playoffs, none filled me with more joy than watching Young dashingly charge toward the basket against the Toronto Raptors, outwit his defenders with a daring spin move in mid-air and fling the ball up over the backboard like he was trying to shot-put it.

It was flashy, unnecessary and he was no where near making that shot. And it was still the most glorious thing I’ve seen since Breaking Bad. Just the irrational confidence to actually think he could make that shot both astounded and thrilled me as a basketball fan. He was wrong, of course, but thank you, Swaggy, for giving truth to Kevin Garnett‘s words of wisdom and making me believe again. With irrational bravery, athleticism and just downright silliness on display, this shot was the essence of Swaggy P manifested on the court.