Nick Young received votes for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award, but not many, considering the Lakers’ 27-win season.
Clippers guard Jamal Crawford won the award for the second time in his career, outpacing Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson by 26 points (421-395).
Crawford received 57 first-place votes, Gibson 49 -- while Young received just three third-place votes, tied in eighth place with Utah’s Enes Kanter and Cleveland’s Dion Waiters
Young finished the season as the Lakers’ leading scorer at 17.9 a game. Through 64 appearances, the USC product started just nine games, sitting out 17 with a knee injury (and one via league suspension).
While the Lakers are looking to hire a new head coach, following Mike D’Antoni’s resignation last week, it’s against NBA rules for a player to also coach the team.
Nonetheless, Young threw his hat into the ring on Twitter.
I’ll be the new coach— Nick Young (@NickSwagyPYoung) May 7, 2014
Young is expected to opt out of the final year on his contract (at $1.2 million) to explore free agency, although re-signing with the Lakers remains a possibility.
The last Laker to win this sixth-man award was Lamar Odom for the 2010-11 season.
Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.
