For a team that features Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Steve Nash, whoever thought Nick Young would become the Los Angeles Lakers’ most marketable player? No way anyone would have seen that coming.
A friend pointed out that on the NBA’s Instagram account, the league posted a promo Tuesday for the big Christmas day game between the Lakers and Miami Heat. LeBron James, of course, is featured for the Heat, but with injuries keeping Bryant and Nash sidelines, the league (or ABC) decided to put Swaggy P. on the poster.
The Brooklyn Nets poster is kind of pathetic too, as it promotes Paul Pierce against the Chicago Bulls’ Carlos Boozer, but the rest make plenty of sense. Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony are featured for the Thunder-Knicks game; it’s James Harden and Tony Parker for Rockets-Spurs; and Chris Paul and Steph Curry for Clippers-Warriors. You’ve got a bunch of all-stars right there, and then a bench player.
With the Lakers at 13-15 and Kobe injured, the allure of a Lakers-Heat game just isn’t there.
