Confused Nick Young
Thru The Lens (YouTube), Episode 4 - July 22, 2014
Try This Meme!
Swap your face into the Confused Nick Young meme and join the trend.
You've sent this meme. Your friends have sent you this meme. The confused Nick Young face with question marks is THE universal symbol for "what the actual heck is going on."
Who Is This Guy?
Nick Young, aka "Swaggy P" - former NBA player, Lakers legend, got a championship ring with the Warriors (yes, that Warriors team). He dated Iggy Azalea, gave himself his own nickname, and once celebrated a three-pointer that he airballed.
These days he's a co-host on Gil's Arena with Gilbert Arenas, where he's become known for his diabolical takes. He'll defend Kobe against anyone, call Gilbert an F-grade teammate to his face, and argue about literally anything. The podcast chemistry is unhinged in the best way.
But none of that matters as much as his confused face. One screenshot made him more recognizable than his entire basketball career.
The Origin Story
In 2014, filmmaker Cassy Athena was shooting a documentary series called "Thru The Lens". During Nick's episode, his mom called him "a clown" growing up. Nick made that face - head tilted, slight smile, eyebrows confused.
Someone screenshotted it. Someone else added floating question marks. The rest is meme history.
The Original Clip
Here's the actual moment from "Thru The Lens" where it all started:
Why It Works
"When she says 'it's fine' but it's clearly not fine" → Nick Young face
"When the recipe says 'season to taste'" → Nick Young face
"When the meeting could've been an email" → Nick Young face
It's universal, versatile, and you don't need any context. The expression speaks for itself.
Face Swapping This One
This is a personal favorite of mine to use. Both animated and static. For static I usually capture the last few frames with the "??" visible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the confused guy with question marks meme?
That's Nick Young, former NBA player who played for the Lakers, Warriors, and other teams. He was known for his flashy style and gave himself the nickname "Swaggy P." The confused expression became one of the most used reaction images on the internet.
What show is the Nick Young meme from?
It's from "Thru The Lens," a YouTube documentary series by Cassy Athena that followed athletes and celebrities. The episode featuring Nick Young was released on July 22, 2014. The confused face happened when his mom called him "a clown" growing up.
When did the confused Nick Young meme start?
The screenshot started circulating in 2014, but it really blew up on Black Twitter in July 2015. Someone on the internet added the question marks for emphasis and it became the universal symbol for confusion.
Why is Nick Young called Swaggy P?
Nick Young gave himself the nickname during his NBA career. The "P" stands for "player" and the swaggy part is... self-explanatory. He was known for his confident personality, wild hair, and flashy style of play. The nickname stuck even after retirement.
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