Kobe Bryant and Nick Young are teammates, but they have sounded like heated rivals throughout the offseason. About a week ago, Kobe was asked a lighthearted question about choosing between Young or Young’s girlfriend, R&B singer Iggy Izalea. Kobe said he would choose Iggy because she has had more success in her career.
Young followed that a few days later by saying he could take Bryant in a game of one-on-one. Ironically, Young later suffered a thumb injury in practice while trying to guard Kobe. Bryant felt no sympathy for his young teammate.
“He’s gotta move his feet on defense,” Kobe said, via SB Nation’s Mike Prada. “That’s a lesson to be learned — you reach, you’re gonna get hurt.”
On Monday, Young shared the photo you see above of him laying in a hospital bed awaiting thumb surgery.
“#It’s time #PrayForMe #ThisIsWhatHappenWhenYouGuardKobe #DefenseHurt,” he wrote.
At least Swaggy P had a sense of humor about it. The injury is expected to keep him out 6-8 weeks, meaning the Lakers will have to start the season without him. Kobe may be old and oft-injured, but we know Young couldn’t beat him in a game of one-on-one at the moment — at least for another couple months or so.
