Retired NBA player Nick Young grabbed headlines by calling himself a basketball thief after unpredictably stealing a pass from teammate Lou Williams in a 2016 game against OKC.
Nick Young, also known as “Swaggy P,” is a former NBA player who played for teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Wizards, and Golden State Warriors.
Born in Los Angeles, California, Young was a standout player in high school and college before entering the NBA in 2007.
The former NBA player has made waves for various reasons; however, once he made headlines for calling himself a “basketball thief.” He wasn’t talking about the literal thief but about his ability to “steal the ball” during games.
In basketball, a “steal” is when a player is quick, clever, and always alert. They sneak in when the other team least expects it and snatch the ball away, turning defense into instant offense.
Such a memorable “steal” moment came in 2016 when Nick Young stole the basketball not in a criminal way, but as a part of the game.
Nick Young’s Basketball Thief Moment Shines in 2016 Lakers Victory!
In 2016, while playing for the Lakers, former NBA player Nick Young had a moment that perfectly captured his unpredictable style.
During a close game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Lakers were down by one point with just seconds left.
The play was designed for Young’s teammate, Lou Williams, to take the final shot. But Nick Young had other plans.
He intercepted a pass meant for Williams, stepped up, and launched a three-pointer. The ball went in, securing a 111-109 victory for the Lakers.
After the game, Young grinned and said,
I’m a thief. I’m a basketball thief.
Nick Young
He admitted he stole the pass because he felt like taking the shot himself. Young said:
I stole the ball from Lou … I just felt like I wanted to take the shot. But it feels good. We worked hard tonight to get this one.
Nick Young
"I just felt like I wanted to take the shot, man," Nick Young said. pic.twitter.com/NsS0JmqkP3
— Kenny Ducey (@KennyDucey) November 23, 2016
“They should give me a steal for that!” he joked, laughing about how he took the ball from his own teammate.
This bold move speaks volumes about his willingness to take risks, even if it meant going against the plan.
While some might have seen it as reckless, his coach, Luke Walton, praised him. Luke told him that he was to steal a pass; he should make the shot.
Later, after making the perfect shot, Luke praised him, saying:
It was a pretty incredible shot by him. Obviously one of the reasons we like Nick on the court at the end of the game is because He’s not afraid of the moment. He loves the moment.
Luke Walton
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Nick Young was born to parents Charles Young Sr. and Mae Young. He had an older brother, Charles Jr., who tragically died in gang violence when Nick was just five.
- He is a cousin of rapper Kendrick Lamar, NBA player Kevon Looney, and rapper Baby Keem.
- Nick Young is engaged to Keonna Green, his high school sweetheart. They have four kids: Nick Jr., Navi, Nyce Amaru, and Lil Naji (born in 2024).
- Young and Keonna’s relationship has had ups and downs, including a brief split during his engagement to rapper Iggy Azalea, but they reunited and got engaged in 2019.
