L.A Lakers News: Nick Young Wants To Win NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award

Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Nick Young really believed he has the tools to win the Sixth Man of the Year award after head coach Mike D'Antoni took him out of starting lineup in favor of Xavier Henry.

Young, originally signed to be the backup for All-Star shooting guard Kobe Bryant, now has a new role after starting the first three games for the Lakers.

Needing more scoring punch from his starters, D'Antoni decided to give the starting nod to Henry, who averaged 12.4 points, 1.2 assists, and 2.6 rebounds per game early this season.

In the Lakers' 105-103 win over the Atlanta Hawks, Henry recorded 18 points on 5-for-11 shooting in his first start. However, Young also delivered a solid stats line with 13 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists off the bench.

In their next game against the Dallas Mavericks, Young continued to shine more off the bench as he racked up 21 points on an efficient 8-for-12 shooting in a 123-104 loss to Dirk Nowitzki and company.

Winning the Sixth Man Honor

Instead of being upset about being demoted to a reserve role, Young welcomed his new role optimistically. Young believed coming off the bench will give the Lakers a scoring boost, and at the same time, allow him to showcase his brand of play on the floor.

ESPN Los Angeles' Dave McMenamin confirmed on his Twitter account that Young is indeed gunning to bag the Sixth Man of the Year as a Lakers reserve player.

Nick Young: "I'm going for Sixth Man of the Year ... That's my goal," McMenamin tweeted on Wednesday.

Young's Chance to Win the Award  

The race for the Sixth Man of the Year award will be pretty crowded this season, with former winners Los Angeles Clippers Jamaal Crawford, New York Knick JR Smith, and San Antonio Spurs Manu Ginobili all fighting for the hardware. Still, Young has proven himself as a well-rounded scorer during his time with the Washington Wizards, Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers.