There are seven games remaining in the dreadful Los Angeles Lakers season known as the "Kobe Bryant farewell tour," but now there is an embarrassing cloud surrounding the team, and it's not just their record.
By now, you've heard the story of how Lakers' rookie point-guard D'Angelo Russell recorded a private conversation between him and teammate Nick Young that was leaked onto the Internet last week. ESPN's Baxter Holmes and Marc Stein reported on Tuesday that the team had isolated Russell recently for violating the sanctity of the Lakers' locker room.
Young spoke to the media before the team's 102-100 victory over the Miami Heat on Wednesday and said it was an internal matter that needed to be handled between him and Russell. The 20-year-old rookie also spoke to the press and said he has apologized to Young and the rest of his teammates and has no idea how the video got out.
According to ESPN Radio in Houston, who had "Fameolous," the social media personality that first published the video, live on air, the video was sent to them by Nicki Minaj. According to "Fameolous," Young's fiancée, pop-star, Iggy Izalea, spoke badly of Minaj on Bravo last week, and her camp sent the video (which they claim they took off Russell's Snapchat) to "Fameolous"
Russell is now seen by teammates and the public as a snitch, and was promptly booed during introductions at Staples Center. The Internet has reacted to Russell's betrayal and some of the best memes in history have surfaced. We congregated some of them for you below. Enjoy.
D'Angelo Russell is probably feeling like Forrest Gump on the first day of school #SeatsTaken #Lakers pic.twitter.com/OWolJk7YHw — Sara Jane Harris (@SaraJaneHarris) March 30, 2016
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Kobe Bryant invoked the spirit of Yoda while advising D'Angelo Russell. https://t.co/ESw23Ekd9m pic.twitter.com/P9olTTA45u — SB Nation (@SBNation) March 31, 2016
Matt Barnes had some things to say after the Nick Young, D'Angelo Russell Video �� https://t.co/bqdKai8Knd pic.twitter.com/TEaA7kI7hh — Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 31, 2016
D'Angelo Russell currently ... #nothrowbackthursday https://t.co/7VouZLpWrj — Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 31, 2016
BREAKING: HBO has just announced a sixth season of The Wire. D'Angelo Russell will play the leading role. pic.twitter.com/rSUEOJOHxJ — Tim and Sid (@timandsid) March 30, 2016
D'Angelo Russell On The Phone With His Agent Like pic.twitter.com/PtPfWmRoaI — Terez Owens (@TerezOwens) March 30, 2016
D'Angelo Russell when he thought he nailed this prank pic.twitter.com/08w9gzmfsn — Tom Ziller (@teamziller) March 30, 2016
D'Angelo Russell standing outside the Lakers locker room like... pic.twitter.com/dc44vCQFgc — Complex Sports (@Complex_Sports) March 30, 2016
Iggy: did Nick cheat on me? You can trust me
D'Angelo: pic.twitter.com/fsws3aIGsd — Leonardo (@KingMiller_) March 30, 2016
OMFG WHO DID THIS?! lalalsmsndskksndmdmsmmdmsndmdndmxmdmmdmxmxmzmzmmsmkskxkslslslks pic.twitter.com/TN9vzZXhZX — Pusha MD™ (@PushaMD) March 30, 2016
Now this is good ... pic.twitter.com/4jNqGunjWL — Brad Crawford (@BCrawford247) March 31, 2016
@Poetic_Brains @A2K4Life @cchopz @504jweezy pic.twitter.com/6zco9YTmXN — ⚜⚜⚜ (@Tha_Goat337) March 30, 2016
@A2K4Life pic.twitter.com/p6a9EDaZty — ab_jilla (@kickzjilla) March 30, 2016