As bad as this season has been for the Los Angeles Lakers, who have the second worst record in the Western Conference through nearly 40 games, it has been that positive for the legend of Swaggy P.
Nick Young, the affable Lakers forward whose nickname was "given to him in a dream by God," has provided a humorous distraction as his team's ship sinks disastrously. There was the time when he boldly claimed he'll end his career with 46,000 points. Or when his girlfriend, the rapper Iggy Azalea, got him a 1962 Chevy Impala for Christmas. Or when Lakers coach Byron Scott did an uncanny impersonation of Young's swagger.
And now, thanks to a new feature in Sports Illustrated, Young is getting even swaggier. Lee Jenkins profiles Young, and of the many anecdotes about Young's opulence, one stands out as the most ridiculous.
"The 6,600-square-foot white traditional [Young] recently purchased with Azalea -- which used to be owned by singer-actress Selena Gomez -- is a monument to his passions. The property, tucked behind a gate in the San Fernando Valley neighborhood of Tarzana, comes with a detached building that Young is converting into a “shoe house.” He employs not one but two “shoe keepers,” who oversee his 500-plus pairs of sneakers, a collection that includes Vans fitted with roller-skating wheels."
That's right, Swaggy P has more than 500 shoes and he's got two "show keepers" to manage them.
Young, who in July 2014 signed a four-year, $21.3 million deal with the Lakers, is not shy about showing off his kicks on Instagram:
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Things on the court haven't been going well for Young, who has fallen into a shooting slump since the New Year. After Tuesday's 2-for-11 performance in the Lakers' loss to the Miami Heat, Young is now 23 for 85 in seven January games.
Young will also need to add more sneakers to catch former NBA player Josh Childress, who has more than 800 pairs in his collection.
