Los Angeles Lakers: Nick Young’s Importance

There’s a plethora of things to say that come to mind when mentioning Los Angeles Lakers guard Nick Young. He’s described as a chucker that only looks to get his own shots off the bench. Others deem him as inefficient and a statue on the defensive end. Laker Nation has come to affectionately refer to his infamous moniker of “Swaggy P” (Only Young knows what the P means). His tenure with the Lakers has been a dream come true for the hometown kid. Young was born and raised in California, attending Cleveland High School and spent two years at the University of Southern California. The Lakers brought Young in on a hometown discount last season, and he produced as expected.

Leading the Lakers in scoring, Young averaged a career-high of 17.9 points per game on 43.5 percent shooting. He spent much of the season as a sixth man (55 of 64 games played as a reserve) and took on the bulk of scoring in Kobe Bryant’s absence. Young’s nightly efforts combined with his on-court flamboyance were a perfect match for the Staple Centers faithful. Whether it was premature celebration to a three-point attempt, or a Christmas Day duel with LeBron James, entertainment was produced in some form by Swaggy.

Last season was a long year for Los Angeles. A franchise-worst 27-55 record hangs over their heads as next year begins. With many questions on the horizon, the Lakers will need Young to bring some of the same qualities that made things fun for the team last season. Of course there’s nothing fun when the Lakers aren’t a contender, but there was something special about watching a roster featuring D-Leaguers and reclamation projects.

Young had his stay extended with the purple and gold this summer. The franchise inked a four-year, $21.5 million deal with his camp (MORE SWAG, SWAG FOREVER!). His personality and energy will be needed in the Lakers’ locker-room.  The bond he shares with their younger core of Xavier Henry, Wes Johnson, and Robert Sacre is great for chemistry. Having a chance to hopefully get a full season beside Kobe Bryant is also an interesting dynamic. Young has a chance to serve as a buffer between the younger Lakers and the veteran, Bryant. While Kobe is the clear-cut leader of the Lakers, Young brings the kind of personality that is going to maintain a welcoming environment.

The Lakers have helped Young’s brand grow more than ever. He has had appearances in GQ Magazine (One of the top fashion publications in the world), and is one of the NBA’s most popular players on social media. The Lakers benefit greatly from Young’s rise to recognition. Upcoming free agents may be attracted by the chance to secure a long-term deal and growth off the court like Young. The possibility even exists for Young to recruit players to sign in Los Angeles.

Again, the responsibility won’t be placed upon Young to carry the team nightly as Kobe Bryant returns. What he can contribute is the alleviation of pressure that new young additions like Ed Davis, Julius Randle, and Jeremy Lin may be facing. Every NBA team needs a player like Young who is willing to play hard, and make the game fun for the team. Within the struggle of building a winner, a team must become one on the journey. There’s no better way to make it all happen than keeping glue guys like Young around.