"I just can't wait to get out there," Nick Young said on Saturday after completing his first full contact Los Angeles Lakers practice of the season. "I'm excited."
Tuesday was the most likely return date, which would be a road game in Atlanta, Young said. The former USC Trojan sounded empathetic to the Lakers' struggle calling it "tough" to sit and watch without being able to help out.
"I want to be a part of everything. If we're going to lose, we're all going to lose together," Young said. "If we're all going to win, we're all going to win together."
Always worth a laugh, Young lightened up practice a bit, Lakers' coach Byron Scott said -- Young admitted to trash talking with everyone in the building.
Before concluding his interview with reporters, Young referred to himself as the "defensive player of the year" and "the best three-point shooter." Then, he told assembled media members to get their popcorn ready.
With Young providing positive news, the Lakers still had the dark cloud of Kobe Bryant's mysterious illness hovering overhead. Bryant admitted he was ill after the game and sounded unsure about what the illness would mean going forward.
"I felt bad for him last night," Scott said about Bryant on Saturday. "I found out, which I already knew, how tough this kid is."
However, don't expect no. 24 not to be playing on Sunday against the Golden State Warriors.
"Probably have to amputate his legs for him not to play tomorrow," Scott responded when asked what it would take for the 36-year-old to sit out Sunday's game. "When it comes to playing, he's the one guy I know that if he can walk, he'll probably play."
