Warriors' Nick Young hoping to experience late-career renaissance

CLEVELAND - Instead of continuing to worry about his NBA future as he had done in the two previous offseasons, Nick Young finally felt some joy. He had just inked a one-year, $5.5 million deal with the Golden State Warriors, fulfilling his nearly two-year long aspiration to join a playoff team that needed some secondary scoring.

Therefore, Young could not help but feel in a great mood when he played pickup games at the Drew League, the Los Angeles-based pro-am league that features both homegrown NBA talent and local amateurs eager to hoop. There, Young ran into Cleveland forward J.R. Smith. And because of what just happened, Young could not help but boast a little.

“Just talking trash,” Young recalled to the Bay Area News Group. “I told him it’s going to be an L for him this summer.”

The exchange did not just highlight Young’s boastfulness and confidence for the Golden State Warriors to win their third NBA championship in four years against the Cavaliers. The moment seemed fitting, since Smith’s career path has inspired Young.

Smith became well known as a player fixated on nightlife and padding his on-court stats amid stints with New Orleans (2004-06), Denver (2006-2011), the Zhejiang Golden Bulls of the Chinese Basketball Association (2011-12) and the New York Knicks (2012-15). But after the Cavaliers acquired Smith in a trade from New York, Smith played a key part in the Cavaliers winning the 2016 NBA championship because of his outside shooting.

“He won a ring, got paid and enjoyed himself,” Young said. “Now he’s trying to figure it back out yet again.”

As for Young?

The man known as “Swaggy P” became known more for his eclectic personality and high-volume shooting than actual winning. After all, Young only appeared in the NBA playoffs once amid stops with the Washington Wizards (2007-2011), Los Angeles Clippers (2012), Philadelphia 76ers (2012-13) and the Los Angeles Lakers (2013-17). As soon as the Cavaliers acquired Smith during the 2015-16 season, Young wondered privately if something similar could happen to him amid a frustrated role with persistent losing, inconsistent minutes and philosophical differences with former Lakers coach Byron Scott. Young became emboldened again when his former Wizards teammate, JaVale McGee, joined the Warriors last season and won his first NBA title.

“Same similar situation,” Young said. “They put us all in the same category. For me, I was happy to see (Smith) finally win. Same thing with JaVale. Hopefully it’s my time.”

The Warriors (36-9) are heavy favorites to win the NBA championship again. It is not so certain to what degree Young will influence that outcome. He has averaged a career-low 4.6 points per game, while shooting 44.6 percent from the field in a career-low 14.3 minutes off the bench in 43 appearances.

“It’s always a little tricky when you go to a new team. Different style, different teammate, it takes time to adapt and adjust,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “Nick is doing fine. I think he’s had some really good games for us. We got a lot of talent. So I don’t give him consistent minutes. But he’s handled everything very beautifully. He’s a great teammate. And I love having him on our team.”

So much that Kerr praised Young without any prompting following the Warriors’ 118-108 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday.

Kerr praised Young for “staying ready and staying prepared” through various roles. He played the last 53.5 seconds of the first half after Warriors guard Stephen Curry picked up his first foul. Kerr than pointed out Young “hit huge shots and played really good defense” en route to five points on 2-of-3 shooting in 11 minutes in the second half.

With Young holding out three fingers and often dancing after a made 3-pointer, Kerr said, “I love the Nick celebrations; it’s always good stuff.”

Because of the Warriors’ positive reinforcement and winning environment, Young hardly seemed upset with a role that involves splitting fluctuating minutes and appearances with second-year guard/forward Patrick McCaw.

“I feel like it’s been going good for me,” Young said. “I do my part when I get in. I feel like I’ve been here for a while now.”

Yet, Young’s learning curve has continued. With Warriors guard Klay Thompson sitting for rest purposes, Young started for the Warriors last week against the Clippers.

Then, Young scored seven points on only 3-of-11 shooting. Four days earlier, Young also only went 4-of-11 against the Clippers. And on Jan. 13, Young played only four minutes in Toronto.

Young noted he “was a little sick” during that stretch. During other times, Young has become more dependable. He posted 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting on Jan. 4 in Houston. Young had nine points and made all three of his field-goal attempts on Jan. 12 in Milwaukee.

“I try not to put too much pressure on missing shots. I try to do all the little things out there,” Young said. “They want me to play defense. So that’s what I’ve been focusing on over there.”

Young also said he remains focused on helping the Warriors win another NBA championship, all of which would follow a path that Smith unexpectedly took.