When the Golden State Warriors signed Nick Young in the summer of 2017, the internet basically broke for a second. It was the ultimate "wait, what?" move. Here you had the most disciplined, ball-moving dynasty in modern basketball history adding a guy nicknamed "Swaggy P" who once famously celebrated a three-pointer before it even went through the hoop. (Spoiler: it didn't go in).
Honestly, it felt like a glitch in the matrix.
But looking back at that 2017-18 season, the Nick Young Golden State Warriors era wasn't just some weird side quest. It was a calculated gamble that actually paid off in a championship ring. Most people remember the memes, the shirtless parade antics, and the silk robes. They forget that in the heat of a brutal seven-game series against the Houston Rockets, Nick Young actually had to play real, high-stakes defense on James Harden.
No, seriously.
Why Golden State Took the Gamble
The Warriors were coming off a 2017 title and looked invincible, but they needed bench scoring. Specifically, they needed someone who wouldn't be afraid to shoot when the stars were resting. Steve Kerr and the front office used their $5.2 million taxpayer mid-level exception to bring in Young.
It was a "below market" deal, as Young put it later. He wanted to be a winner. He’d seen guys like J.R. Smith and JaVale McGee reinvent themselves as champions and he wanted that validation. He was tired of being the "lovable loser" on rebuilding Lakers squads.
The 2017-18 Regular Season: Flashes of Swag
The debut was legendary. Opening night against the Rockets, Young came off the bench and went nuclear, hitting 6-of-7 from downtown to finish with 23 points. For a moment, it looked like he might be the Sixth Man of the Year.
Of course, things settled down.
Over 80 regular-season games, he averaged about 7.3 points in 17 minutes. He wasn't the focal point, and that was a weird adjustment for him. He had to learn the "Warriors Way"—which basically meant "pass the ball to Steph or KD." There were times when Draymond Green had to literally yell at him for taking "bad" shots. Draymond later joked that while Steph has a green light to "chug" shots, Nick had to be a bit more selective.
The "Swing Player" in the Playoffs
If you just look at the box scores, Young’s playoff run looks mediocre. He averaged 2.6 points. Big deal, right?
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But ask Draymond Green.
In a recent podcast, Draymond went off on critics like Kenyon Martin who claimed Young just "rode the bus" to a ring. Green called him a "swing player." When Andre Iguodala went down with a leg injury during the Western Conference Finals, the Warriors were in deep trouble against a Houston Rockets team that was designed specifically to kill them.
Steve Kerr had to go deep into his bench. He started Young in Game 1 of the Pelicans series and leaned on him heavily against Houston. Why? Because Nick Young is 6'7" with a 7-foot wingspan. He was "thiccc" enough (as the fans say) to keep James Harden from just backing him down into the paint.
"Nick Young was the swing player in the Houston series," Draymond Green said. "In Games 6 and 7, Nick Young was one of the primary defenders on James Harden. He swung the series for us."
It’s wild to think about. The fate of the Warriors' dynasty partially rested on Swaggy P staying locked in defensively against an MVP. And he did it. He stayed in front of his man, used his length, and didn't gamble.
The Culture Shock and the Ring
The most human part of the Nick Young Golden State Warriors story is how much the culture affected him. He talked about being surprised that Steph Curry was actually as nice as he seemed. He thought it was a "fake" image until he saw it every day.
He also struggled with the pressure. During Game 7 in Houston, when the Warriors were down double digits at halftime, Young was reportedly terrified that he was the "jinx." He’d never been that deep in the playoffs. He didn't want to be the guy who broke the Warriors.
When they finally won it all, sweeping the Cavs in the Finals, the relief was massive. The images of him shirtless at the parade, celebrating with a cigar and a championship trophy, became the defining visuals of that summer. He’d finally made it.
What We Get Wrong About Swaggy P's Tenure
The narrative is usually that he was a "clown" who got a "free ring."
That's lazy.
The Warriors don't keep guys around who can't play within their system. You can't be a total liability and play 21 minutes in a playoff game for Steve Kerr. Young had to sacrifice his "volume shooter" identity to become a "spacing and defense" role player.
- Defense was the real key: His 7'0" wingspan was a legitimate asset in the Warriors' switching scheme.
- Floor spacing: Even when he wasn't hitting, teams had to respect him. You couldn't leave Swaggy P open, which gave KD and Steph more room to operate.
- Locker room vibes: In a high-pressure season where "winning fatigue" was real, Young’s personality kept things light.
Actionable Insights: Lessons from the Swaggy P Experiment
If you’re looking at how teams are built today, the Nick Young experiment actually offers a blueprint for veteran minimum and mid-level signings.
- Role Identification over Talent: Don't just sign the "best" available player; sign the one whose specific physical tools (like Young's length) solve a potential problem (like matching up with big guards).
- Veteran Motivation Matters: Young took less money because he wanted a ring. That hunger makes players more willing to accept a reduced role.
- System Integration: Even a "wild card" can succeed if you have a strong leadership core (like Draymond and Steph) to keep them accountable.
The Nick Young Golden State Warriors partnership was brief—just one season—but it was the perfect marriage of a team that needed a spark and a player who needed a purpose. He might not have his jersey in the rafters, but he's a champion forever. And honestly? That's pretty swaggy.
If you want to understand the 2018 Warriors, don't just watch the Steph highlights. Go back and watch Game 6 and 7 of the Houston series. Watch the way Nick Young moves his feet on defense. It’s the most underrated part of that title run.
Next time you see a highlight of him celebrating a missed shot, remember that he also helped stop James Harden when the season was on the line.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check out the full 2018 Western Conference Finals highlights to see Young's defensive rotations.
- Compare his defensive rating in that series to his career average; the "Kerr Effect" is clearly visible in the data.