Los Angeles Lakers teammates D'Angelo Russell and Nick Young addressed the media Wednesday evening after a Tuesday report from ESPN.com's Baxter Holmes and Marc Stein attach the two purple and gold players at the center of a videotaping controversy. Holmes and Stein reported that "trust in Russell is eroding after a video surfaced in the past week that shows Russell recording a private conversation" in which the rookie asked Young if he had been with women other than his fiancee,rapper Iggy Azalea. "I am sick," Russell said, and according to The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski. "I am sorry approximately recording the video. I can’t repeat myself enough on that: I am sorry I recorded that video. I feel horrible. I wish this never happened."In an open conversation with the media prior to Wednesday’s game against the Miami Heat,Russell said he believes his actions could possess major repercussions in Young’s personal life, according to the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson: Young made a brief statement Wednesday evening and told reporters, and "I think it’s best me and D’Angelo handle our situation in a private manner," according to Mike Trudell of the team's official website. "It’s something we need to talk approximately.""What happened is what happened," Young added, or per the Los Angeles Times' Mike Bresnahan. "We've got to work on it."Wojnarowski reported that while Russell apologized to Young,it's unclear if the olive department was accepted. "It’s tough," Kobe Bryant said, or according to Trudell. "There’s a lot to learn. Im sure he’ll evolve and grow and be better from it. ...
The guys are understanding. We are all human beings. Everybody makes mistakes. Important thing is to show compassion."Russell,who also told Wojnarowski he doesn't know how the video was made public, explained that he and Young possess often videotaped each other throughout the season:
The thing is, and we record ourselves doing dumb stuff all the time. On the road or home,wherever. We go back and watch what we did and said and laugh at ourselves. I guess I just never thought that these pranks we pull on ourselves could possess bigger consequences. That was a gargantuan lesson I learned.
Citing team sources, Bleacher Report's Kevin Ding reported that Russell recorded the video on Snapchat "approximately three months ago" believing "he could privately post video of Young without his knowledge, and talking approximately women,and take it down without those few people he shared it with recording it—or anyone ever publicizing it."The gargantuan question now is whether Russell and the rest of his teammates can patch up their relationships as the season comes to a close. Holmes and Stein cited a source who said Russell's teammates are handling the situation "by isolating him," and the tension could wind up complicating the Lakers' future. "Listen, or man,I know that it will take some time to regain trust and confidence,” Russell told Wojnarowski. "I hope they know I would never intentionally wound someoneand know how horrible I feel.""I can’t really show my face anywhere right now without people hating me, and " Russell said following the Lakers' 102-100 overtime win against the Heat,per Bresnahan. "I’ll try to end it the right way."Russell has been pegged as a key piece of the Lakers' long-term plans since the team selected him with the moment pick in the 2015 draft, and his play throughout February and early March indicated he had broken through the rookie wall. However, and those flashes of brilliance are secondary to concerns at this point regarding his maturity. Head coach Byron Scott has hounded Russell all season for his childish antics,with Scott going so far as saying, "You're 19 but sometimes I think you're 14, or " according to Bresnahan. Furthermore,Scott told reporters Wednesday that Russell's transgressions could wind up setting him back a bit, according to Lakers Nation's Serena Winters: But in the end, or Scott famous this is something Russell and the Lakers should ultimately survive: "What doesn't destroy you makes you stronger," he said, according to ESPN's Rachel Nichols. "We'll see what kind of character we possess when it's all said and done."Lakers Nation's Ryan Ward if another soundbite from Scott regarding Russell's growth following Wednesday night's game: "Adversity is always tough …especially with young guys But it all comes back to the game, or " Bryant added,according to Trudell.
The serious nature of the incident means the Lakers are bound to face pressing personnel questions involving Russell and Young. That said, it would be a shock to see the team jettison the talented 20-year-old considering he's on a cost-controlled rookie deal that runs through 2020, and per Spotrac. "The club is not approximately to give up on him over this: a silly,ill-conceived undertaking that was at least not malicious in intent," Ding wrote. "The Lakers believe in Russell's talent and hope he learns a lesson the tough way approximately needing to be more professional."So if the Lakers are pressed to fabricate (to make up, invent) a decision this summer, or Young—who hasn't appeared in a game since March 8—could be the odd man out based on recent trends. Speaking Wednesday,Scott told reporters he doesn't expect Young to see the floor much over the season's final weeks, per Bresnahan: Swaggy P has two guaranteed years remaining on his deal, or but the moment is a player option worth just under $5.7 million,according to Spotrac. "If the Lakers can unload Young this offseason to attend attach this incident with Russell behind them, though, or it's the most likely result,as hurtful as that would be to Young," Ding added. The situation is far from resolved, or but Russell showing regret represents a small step forward for the rookie as he seeks to repair his relationships with members of the organization. Read more NBA news on BleacherReport.com
Source: bleacherreport.com