The Los Angeles Lakers don’t have any representatives in the All-Star game this season, but that didn’t prevent fans from pushing hard for the participation of others in the weekend festivities. Mainly, everyone wanted Nick Young to be invited to participate in the Three-Point contest.
His numbers certainly fit the bill, and Young was asked to be a part of a deep field that included Kyrie Irving, Kyle Lowry, C.J. McCollum, and defending champion Klay Thompson.
Young represented himself well with a score of 18. Unfortunately, it was one point short of the threshold to make the final round as he had to settle for a fourth place finish, tied with Thompson.
Unsurprisingly to anyone who has watched Young throughout his career, Young was streaky throughout his round, having moments where he looked like he could have the top score before going ice cold for a few shots. Overall it was still a positive for the Lakers veteran who was far ahead of players such as McCollum (10), Wesley Matthews (11), and Lowry (9).
The three finalists in the contest were Irving, Eric Gordon of the Houston Rockets, and Kemba Walker of the Charlotte Hornets. Gordon and Irving would need an extra session to determine the winner after both finishing with 20 in the Finals, but ultimately it was Gordon who would walk away with the trophy.
Nonetheless, Young represented the Lakers well and, true to form seemed to be having a great time while taking part in the competition.
Now Young will have to wait out the NBA trade deadline as his name has been coming up in some rumors. Young has said that he isn’t thinking about any possibility of being moved and many would love to see him continue his career in purple and gold.
