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Could Nick Young Play For Team Australia In 2016 Olympics?

By Mark Vandeusen

Feb 22, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Nick Young (0) reacts to a 3-point basket in the second half of the game against the Boston Celtics at Staples Center. Lakers won 118-111 in OT. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 22, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Nick Young (0) reacts to a 3-point basket in the second half of the game against the Boston Celtics at Staples Center. Lakers won 118-111 in OT. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Back in June, Los Angeles Lakers guard Nick Young got engaged to Australian rap singer Iggy Azalea.  In late August, the couple took a trip to Australia, Young’s first visit to the continent.  Clearly Young was quite impressed by his fiancee’s homeland, as he sent out these tweets:

Young also retweeted this post from NBA Australia:

Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut (who’s from Australia) joined in the fun as well:

It was widely assumed that Young’s tweets were mostly in jest, but a recent report from TMZ Sports suggests otherwise. It states:

"“…we spoke with a top official for Basketball Australia who tells us, ‘Nick’s representatives have been in contact with an ‘official inquiry.’“The official told us Nick would have to become an Australian citizen to be eligible for the team — and the process was thoroughly explained to Young’s camp.“For the record, it’s not an easy process — according to the official, Young would have to start by living in Australia for ‘an extended period of time.’“And after that, Basketball Australia tells us there’s no guarantee Young will make the squad — ‘He would be considered for selection on MERIT like everybody else.'”"

Assuming Young really is serious about playing Olympic ball for Australia, could it actually happen?  The “merit” part is no problem — he’d likely be the best player on a squad that might include fellow NBA talent Bogut, Mathew Dellavedova, Dante Exum, Patty Mills, Joe Ingles and Aron Baynes.

However, living there for an “extended period of time” poses a bit of a dilemma. Lakers training camp is roughly a month away, and that commute from Australia to L.A. is brutal.

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