DENVER, CO – APRIL 23: The field is set for action as the Golden State Warriors prepare to face the Denver Nuggets in Game 2 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Pepsi Center on April 23, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
The recent one-year suspension of Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka has sparked deeper conversations about the private relationships NBA players have — often with other NBA personnel.
One NBA player who speaks from his own experiences is former NBA champion Nick Young. Appearing on Vlad TVYoung recounted an incident during his rookie season with the Washington Wizards where he and then-teammate Andray Blatche both slept with the same Wizards cheerleader.
Young recalled that after the team found out about the affair, the cheerleader was fired. In the aftermath, Young and Blatche were blamed for his firing.
“It happened to me when I was a rookie. Me and Andray Blatche, she was having fun. I think it was one of the cheerleaders or an assistant. They found out and (when) we came to the gym, people were blaming us like it was our fault because she got kicked out or something…” Young said.
It’s a lot to take in.
The larger point seems to be that there is a different standard for players who relate to team members and the people they engage themselves with. That shouldn’t be a huge surprise.
But it goes some way to showing that NBA and NBA teams clearly don’t like players getting involved with people within their organizations.
It’s the way these things are being handled that has people wondering right now.
