With Kobe Bryant only playing six games last season, multiple players had to step up to take on the scoring load, and one of the biggest players to do so was Nick Young. An Los Angeles native, Young has embraced the life that comes with being a member of the Lakers, and was rewarded for his play lat season with a new four-year contract.
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This season, Bryant will be back and Young will have to change his game to mesh with Bryant, something Young isn’t worried about as he said during media day on Time Warner Cable SportsNet:
I think it’ll be great. I think for me, I can release a lot of pressure from him with my scoring ability, and I think we’ll go hand in hand. He won’t be getting double-teamed as often as he should, and I think this will probably be the first time Kobe plays with someone who’s trying to get as [many] shots as him.
Young seems to understand where he fits in and how he can help Kobe. He is also looking forward to Kobe, and Steve Nash being around the team more this season:
I think we needed Kobe in the locker room more. I think we needed Nash around more because this summer, when we played, they all came back this past week, and just being out there with Nash, and how easy the game was for me […] I try to pick each one of their brains.
Young sounds excited to play with Kobe and the other veterans, but it is also worth noting that he is also trying to learn from them while he can.
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If Young is able to build off of his impressive play from last season, the Lakers will be better for it. He and Kobe could form an explosive set of wings, and Nash being healthy makes life easier for both.
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