We expect the unexpected from Nick “Swaggy P” Young, whether that’s allegedly attacking someone during a church league game, having a firework explode in his hand during the Fourth of July or stealing a pass intended for a teammate and hitting a game-winning shot.
Young’s knack for the strange came up again Wednesday’s game between his Los Angeles Lakers and the Brooklyn Nets. While attempting a free throw during the Lakers’ loss, Young ended up pump-faking the shot. This caused a double lane violation, leading to a jump ball the Nets won, and also produced an angry Los Angeles head coach.
Got 'em 😂 https://t.co/HDO3mDp74A
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 15, 2016
Yikes. There is a whole lot of bluffing and a bunch of players thinking to themselves, “should I be moving right now?” Either way, it’s pretty comical to see so many professional players look this baffled.
In Young’s defense, it looked like the ball might have slipped. But based on his previous history, it’s doubtful. Young did the same thing years ago. Thankfully for Swaggy P, no one moved that time.
It is damn funny to us as observers. But unfortunately for Young and his teammates, head coach Luke Walton didn’t find the pump-fake — or the eventual 107-97 loss to the lowly Nets — very funny.
Nick Young said Luke Walton raised his voice to the team tonight and called them mentally soft
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) December 15, 2016
Nick Young said Luke called the team out tonight. On what? "Just mentally being soft…that we've got to step up to the plate." (on SPSN)
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) December 15, 2016
With Walton’s solid rapport with the players, it seems unlikely this speech does any harm. But it appears that Walton is finally seeing the unfocused bunch the rest of us saw heading into this season. Pump-faking free throws, whether intentionally or not, certainly isn’t a good sign.
