Thaddeus Young on leadership, thoughts on Nick Nurse

On the latest episode of Hustle Play, Thaddeus Young joined the show to give his impression of Nick Nurse, how he's helping his teammates off the court and what his role is on the court. Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts or watch on our Yahoo Sports Canada YouTube.

Video Transcript

- Sounds like Bobby Webster and Masai had a lot of energy for years, trying to bring you in to the Toronto Raptors.

THADDEUS YOUNG: I wish it when I was a little bit younger. I wish it was then.

- But apparently, they've been trying to bring you in here for a minute, you know what I mean? How do you look at the-- I wouldn't say the trademark, but trades overall, right? Chris and I were discussing a few episodes ago that we were nervous around the trade deadline, because we didn't know what was going to happen with Chris, especially because he really turned things around, right?

And he was playing so well, that in my back of my mind I started thinking, a team might make-- try to make a really hard push to bring him in, right?

- [INAUDIBLE]

- So, go from Chicago, go to San Antonio, you come over to Toronto. But how do you look at that kind of situation, because to me, it just looks like you're a player that's sought after, right?

THADDEUS YOUNG: Yeah, I mean, obviously I bring a lot to the table, and just-- and it's not just from scoring baskets, you know, it's like Chris said, like leadership, encouraging guys. That's one of my biggest things. Like, my teammates. I want them all to feel comfortable with me out there on the court, and I want them all to feel comfortable while they're out there on the court.

So my biggest thing is just always encouraging my teammates to be better, or to know that they're better, or they're good. From day one, I was like look, man, this is what you need to do. You're good, keep going. Don't stop. And just always trying to encourage guys and just being that leader for them, and just showing them this is how pros do it. And this is how it should be done as a pro. And I think that's what, you know, is being sought after.

Yeah, we know I can probably go out there and get 10 points a game, if I necessarily needed to, or 12 points, or 15 points, by taking more shots and stuff like that. But I do all the little things that doesn't score-- doesn't show up on the stat sheet. And I think that's the thing that most GM's and coaches, and everybody kind of sort out, the intangibles. The guy who's going to do everything, who's going to sacrifice his game for the betterment of the team. And that's what I've always done my whole career.

- What sticks out to the both of you guys, because we were talking a little bit about coaching right now with Nick Nurse, right? What's the first thing that stuck out to you and Chris? What has your relationship been like with him over the years? 'Cause I mean you're Nick, coach Nick Nurse.

CHRIS BOUCHER: Oh, um--

- You're balling under him.

CHRIS BOUCHER: Yeah, I mean it's been interesting to start, and interesting, you know-- well, the way it's going right now, obviously, I think it was hard for me to understand my role, and that's probably what made us be on a different page a couple of times. I mean, when I see how I play now, I kind of understand he probably saw that from me a long time ago. And since I was just showing it, that's probably what Coach hate the most is a senior player that's really good at something. And only gives you that one game, and the other game he doesn't show up.

So I think that's probably what he had a lot of problems with. And it's hard to trust a player like this when he's first of hours trigger happy. So yeah, I came in the game just thought hey listen it's my show really. And sometimes it was working, and sometimes it's not. But the problem with coaches like this, they want that every time, they want consistency, and that's how you win games. So it's hard to bet on a guy like that.

And I think now, our relationship is a lot better because obviously I bring the same energy every day. But I also acknowledge that what my role is, and that I have to be less selfish than I was before. Because I think even though I was playing hard, I still was thinking about my numbers, and all that. And it changed this year, and for the good. For the relationship between me and my coach, me and my teammates. And just for myself, too.

- What was the first thing that stood out with you when you got here, about Nick Nurse?

THADDEUS YOUNG: His energy. He has a really good energy about him, and obviously, like, we all can tell, all he wants to do is win. Since day one, him taking over-- he's been winning. So you know, I think that's one of the biggest things. And that's what I stand for. Like, bringing energy, winning, and making sure that we have a great team culture. And I think he's does all the same things that he's for.

We've had several conversations about how I can help the team, and what I can do. And I already kind of knew that coming in, like, my role is being the same on every single team. You know, when you come in, you do the intangibles, you bring the energy. If you go out there and score 10 points, 10-15 points, that's good.

But sometimes presence is better than points. You see what I'm saying? So just bringing and making sure that your presence is felt on both sides of the basketball, that you're doing the right things to kind of get the team flowing and moving. And you kind of like being that buffer in between everybody. And that's what I try to bring to the table.

- All right, coach Thad, I hear you.

CHRIS BOUCHER: Yeah, man, to be honest with you, you hear this today, but like, that never changed. I feel like since he got here, and it always been about the same thing. And like honestly, it's so-- a good energy for us to have, because at the end of the day, I was one of them.

When I was playing bad at the beginning of the season, I would have liked to have somebody that tells me some stuff like that. Maybe I would have got out the slump a little faster. He's doing that with the young guys, he's doing that with the guys that are playing well, actually, now. Telling them to keep going, and no one that's not playing nothing doing is going to come. Which is always good to hear, honestly.

INTERVIEWER: But what have you been hearing from Thad, though?

CHRIS BOUCHER: He told me every time, we're going to need the same thing as yesterday. And they tell me that from Denver game, from the game-- every time I come in the game, it's like, same thing today. And same energy, and no let down. And when we're on the floor, we know that our role is to bring energy, bring the lead.

And it's been the same, like I said, to me, this is not surprising to hear. I've heard that from this guy, from the day he got here. And I promise you I could bring Scotty here or anybody here, and they'll tell you the same.