Former NBA player Nick Young to reinforce Philippine squad in Dubai tournament
FILE–Former NBA player Nick Young. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images/AFP
MANILA, Philippines — Former NBA guard Nick Young will reinforce the Strong Group Realty Philippines team in the 32nd Dubai International Basketball Championship from January 27 to February 5.
The Strong Group coach Charles Tiu is expecting Young, who is also known as ‘Swaggy P’, to show flashes of his NBA form and bring his scoring prowess to the Filipino squad, owned by Ateneo guard and UAAP Season 85 champion Jacob Lao.
“We are hoping that he can still have his NBA form somehow. We expect him to score a lot for us that’s why we got him,” Tiu told Inquirer Sports.
Tiu, who recently steered College of Saint Benilde to the NCAA Finals for the first time in two decades, said they will announce their other players, who will team up with Young, on Thursday.
Young, an 11-year NBA veteran who was picked 16th overall by the Washington Wizards in the 2007 Draft, will arrive in the Philippines in the second week of January.
“He will arrive the second week of January and we go to Dubai end of the month,” Tiu said.
On Wednesday, the former NBA player quoted Tiu’s tweet with a caption: “My man.”
Young also tweeted earlier: “Pba 👀” hours before Game 2 of the Commissioner’s Cup Finals between Barangay Ginebra Kings and Bay Area Dragons.
Last December 6, Young took to Twitter to express his desire to play in the Philippines.
pba are y’all ready for swaggy Philippines lets make it happen
— Nick Young (@NickSwagyPYoung) December 5, 2022
The 37-year-old guard also played for the Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Los Angeles Lakers.
He won an NBA title with the Golden State Warriors, led by Steph Curry, in the 2018 season.
Young last played in the NBA with the Denver Nuggets, where he only played four matches before being waived.
The 6-foot-7 shooting guard took his act to a 3×3 league, Big 3, signing with the Enemies last year.
Young also tried boxing, facing TikTok star Malcolm Minikon in an exhibition last September 10.
