Lakers rookie apologizes for secretly recording teammate
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — D’Angelo Russell knows he must rebuild the Los Angeles Lakers’ trust in him after the rookie guard’s unflattering video exchange with teammate Nick Young ended up on social media.
Speaking before Wednesday night’s home game against Miami, Russell apologized profusely for recording the video, saying his actions have created “a bad vibe” on the last-place club.
Russell also acknowledged that the video might have imperiled Young’s relationship with his fiancée, rapper Iggy Azalea.
“I feel as sick as possible,” Russell said. “I wish I could make things better right away, but I can’t.”
Russell is a pillar of the last-place Lakers’ rebuilding effort, but he was lightly booed by Lakers fans in pregame introductions and in the opening minutes against the Heat. Other fans shouted “Snitch!” and “Traitor!” from the stands at Staples Center.
In Russell’s video, the 20-year-old point guard asks Young about being with women other than Azalea. Russell claimed he has no idea how the video became public, claiming he didn’t post it on social media or send it to any friends.
“That’s the two-and-two I’m trying to put together, me and my team,” said Russell, who also declined to blame the leak on phone hacking. “I have no clue how that got out.”
Russell disagreed with claims that his teammates have isolated him, but he knows they aren’t happy.
“I know if I’ve lost anybody’s trust, I’m going to work my tail off to gain it back, because that’s something you need for a winning team,” Russell said. “You need everybody to trust each other. You need the first guy to trust the 15th guy, and that’s my intentions.”
Young was unusually downbeat in his own brief comments before Wednesday’s game.
“I don’t want to get into my personal life right now,” Young said.
