Nick Young recently took a trip down memory lane to recall the infamous incident that led to a major fallout between him and former Lakers teammate D’Angelo Russell. The drama, which unfolded in March 2016, made headlines both in and out of the NBA world and had a lasting impact on both players’ careers.
The controversy began when a video, secretly recorded by Russell, surfaced and showed Young discussing his relationships with other women during a private conversation. At the time, Young was engaged to Australian rapper Iggy Azalea, and the leaked video quickly went viral, causing significant turmoil in Young’s personal life and creating a toxic atmosphere within the Lakers locker room.
During a recent episode of the “Gil’s Arena” podcast with former NBA player Gilbert Arenas, Young opened up about the aftermath of the video leak and how the situation was handled behind the scenes by the Lakers organization. Young revealed that he wanted to confront Russell physically over the incident but was prevented from doing so due to heightened security measures put in place by the Lakers.
“[Former Lakers GM] Mitch Kupchak told me, ‘Don’t come to the arena. Don’t come to practice, none of that. If you do anything, we’ll take your money,’ and all that … They said we’re gonna take some money from you,” Young said when Arenas asked why he didn’t get physical with Russell.
The Lakers organization took the matter seriously, warning Young to stay away from practices and the arena in order to prevent any altercations. When Young eventually returned, he found that security had been ramped up to prevent any confrontation. “And then when I got there, there was security there, all around there, so I couldn’t get a chance to [beat him up],” Young explained.
Young further elaborated that by the time he had another opportunity to see Russell, it was the end of the following season. “By the time—once I saw him the next season, it was the end of the season,” Young added, implying that the situation had cooled down somewhat by then.
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The tension between Young and Russell led to significant changes for both players, as they both moved on from the Lakers around the same time in 2017. Young chose not to exercise his player option to extend his contract with the Lakers for the 2017-18 season, instead becoming an unrestricted free agent. The very next day, Russell was traded to the Brooklyn Nets, signaling the end of their time together in Los Angeles.
During his conversation with Arenas, Young also expressed his belief that Russell was the one who leaked the video. “How else did it get out there?” Young said, pointing to the improbability of anyone else having access to the footage.
Young went on to describe how he felt Russell was fascinated by his “Swaggy P” persona and perhaps wanted to emulate or capture some of that aura. “I’m big time, you know that. I’ve had the baddest. At that time, I was in the mix. I was dabbling and dabbling … he was seeing a lot. He was so enthused by the Swaggy persona. He wanted to get some of my aura … He was recording me to see how this s–t was.”
The fallout from the leaked video was significant, not just for Young’s personal life but for the dynamics within the Lakers organization.
Three months after the video went viral, Azalea took to social media to announce that she had ended her relationship with Young. In a since-deleted tweet, she revealed that she had discovered Young had brought other women into their home while she was away, and she caught them on security footage in June 2016.
The controversy also had repercussions for the Lakers as a team. At the time, ESPN reported that the video leak created a great deal of tension within the locker room, especially during what was already an emotional season as it marked Kobe Bryant’s farewell tour.
Bryant’s final season was meant to be a celebration of his legendary career, but the drama between Young and Russell cast a shadow over the team, further complicating an already challenging year.
After leaving the Lakers, both players went on to have varying levels of success elsewhere. Russell had stints with the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves before eventually making his return to the Lakers in 2023.
Young, on the other hand, found a role with the Golden State Warriors, where he won an NBA Championship in 2018.
Looking back, the incident between Young and Russell remains one of the most infamous moments in recent NBA history. It was a turning point for both players—one that altered their careers and personal lives in significant ways.
For Nick Young, the incident was a betrayal by a teammate, and for D’Angelo Russell, it was a harsh lesson in trust and the responsibilities that come with being in the public eye.
Despite the passage of time, the memory of that leaked video still lingers, and it’s clear that both players were profoundly affected by it.
