What happened behind the scenes after D’Angelo Russell leaked Nick Young cheating video —ex-Laker reveals shocking details

· New York Post

Nick Young took a trip down memory lane while recalling his infamous beef with D’Angelo Russell.

The former Lakers teammates made headlines off the court in March 2016, when a video that was secretly recorded by Russell surfaced and showed Young discussing his relations with other women in a private conversation together.

During the latest installment of the “Gil’s Arena” podcast with former NBA player Gilbert Arenas, Young, who was dating Australian rapper Iggy Azalea at the time, claimed he confronted Russell — a prized rookie at the time — “from a distance” due to the Lakers adding heightened security in the aftermath of the incident.

“[Former Lakers GM] Mitch Kupchak told me, ‘Don’t come to the arena. Don’t come to practice, none of that. If you do anything, we’ll take your money,’ and all that … They said we’re gonna take some money from you,'” Young said when asked by Arenas why he didn’t get physical with Russell over the matter.

“And then when I got there there was security there, all around there, so I couldn’t get a chance to [beat him up].”

Former NBA guard Nick Young talks about his infamous beef with D’Angelo Russell and the video that leaked in 2016 during an appearance on Gilbert Arenas’ podcast on Nov. 11, 2024. YouTube/Gil's Arena
Nick Young and Iggy Azalea attend the 2015 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. WireImage

Young added that he didn’t want to get “kicked out of the league” if he retaliated.

“They made me look like the bad vet … For being recorded, I got sent home,” he said.

Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell speaks during a news conference to discuss the controversy with teammate Nick Young before a game against the Miami Heat at Staples Center March 30, 2016, in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images
Lakers’ Nick Young speaks to the media prior to the team’s game against the Miami Heat, March 30, 2016, in Los Angeles. AP

“By the time — once I saw him the next season, it was the end of the season.”

Young and Russell moved on from the Lakers around the same time in 2017.

Young elected not to exercise his option to extend his Lakers contract for the 2017-18 season and became an unrestricted free agent, the Lakers announced on June 21.

The next day, Russell was traded to the Nets.

Lakers forward Nick Young (0), right, and D’Angelo Russell defending against the Knicks on Feb. 6, 2017. Corey Sipkin

Young told Arenas that he believes Russell leaked the video.

“How else do did it get out there?” Young said.

“I’m big time, you know that. I’ve had the baddest. At that time I was in the mix. I was dabbling and dabbling … he was seeing a lot. He was so enthused by the Swaggy persona. He wanted to get some of my aura … He was recording me to see how this s–t was.”

Three months later, Azalea said in a since-deleted tweet that she ended things with Young after she discovered “he had brought other women into our home while I was away and caught them on the security footage” in June 2016.

D’Angelo Russell #1 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots a free throw during a game against the 76ers on November 8, 2024 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, Ca. NBAE via Getty Images

ESPN reported at the time that the situation caused tension among the Lakers during Kobe Bryant’s farewell season.

Russell had stints with the Warriors and Timberwolves before returning to the Lakers in 2023.