The practice courts at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex are typically quiet once most Atlanta Hawks players have departed. However, even in the quiet, Trae Young, often found near the baseline, remains aware of the constant buzz and criticism surrounding him.
Now in his eighth season, Young is a fan favorite in Atlanta, but he faces relentless criticism from figures like Patrick Beverley and various online detractors. He`s familiar with the common complaints: that he can`t adapt his playstyle or effectively share the court with certain teammates. Young finds these criticisms amusing, stating, “It`s very comical to me. It`s very funny. There`s so many things, man.”
Following a near-NBA Finals appearance in 2020-21, Young and the Hawks have since participated in four consecutive play-in tournaments, suffering two first-round exits and missing the playoffs entirely in the last two years.
Young considers every season crucial, but acknowledges this upcoming one feels uniquely “special” and “definitely the biggest season for me.” As the reigning assists champion, he`s entering his prime with what he believes is his strongest roster yet. With a $49 million player option for the next season, Young aims to prove his superstar worth to Atlanta, justifying a potential four-year, $229 million max extension.
However, in the current restrictive “second-apron” era, the Hawks are delaying an extension. This allows them to assess the performance of their revamped roster, preserving financial flexibility should the season not go as planned. It also keeps open the possibility of building around their promising young talent. Similarly, Kristaps Porzingis is also awaiting a potential extension, contingent on this season`s outcome.
If Young doesn`t secure an extension this season, the All-Star will be able to explore his options next summer, meaning he must adapt to not fully controlling his immediate professional future.
Regarding playing without an extension, Young told ESPN, “I think it`s going to be great. I`m not worried about it. As much as I wish it was, it`s not all in my hands, and I can`t control everything. I can only control the present. I know if we win, everybody benefits… I understand the impact of winning.”
He added, “If external factors like injuries or health, which are beyond my control, don`t align, perhaps it`s a higher power guiding me toward an alternate path. My focus is on ensuring my teammates and coach Quin Snyder are successful.”
This past summer, new general manager Onsi Saleh orchestrated one of the NBA`s most impressive offseasons, bringing in Kristaps Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Luke Kennard. He also secured the New Orleans Pelicans` unprotected 2026 first-round pick, a potentially valuable lottery selection in a strong draft class.
Young`s primary objective is to integrate these veteran additions with emerging Hawks talents such as Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, Zaccharie Risacher, and Onyeka Okongwu, guiding Atlanta towards championship contention. The Eastern Conference presents an opportunity, especially with key players like Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics and Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers currently injured.
This improved roster and current landscape offer Young a crucial opportunity to re-establish himself in the playoffs, affirm his status as a foundational franchise player, and silence his critics. He`s confident that the talent surrounding him will enable him to showcase his full capabilities.
Young remarked, “There`s a lot of misconceptions about me. They`ll change over time, and I truly believe that.” He concluded, “And I feel like a lot of it will get changed this year.”
Before the second day of Hawks training camp, the team`s weight room was noticeably more energetic. Trae Young, at 27, is now one of the team`s older veterans, actively engaging with teammates, high-fiving, and motivating them before their weightlifting session.
Onyeka Okongwu, entering his sixth season, noted to ESPN, “There`s definitely a new sense of energy with Trae this year. He`s always had it, but it`s different now. He`s really stepping up as a leader, trying to unite the team. We have a very young squad, and he`s aiming to guide the younger players and be a prominent voice in the locker room.”
Okongwu added, “In terms of communication, I`ve heard him speak up more this year than in previous ones, and I commend him for that.”
Jalen Johnson observed Young “just smiling” frequently during training camp. Young`s enthusiasm for his teammates this season seems unshakable, even by critics like Patrick Beverley.
Just two weeks prior, Patrick Beverley had publicly questioned Young`s leadership and ability to win. In an online exchange, Beverley claimed to have spoken with Young`s former teammates who expressed concerns about his leadership and enjoyment of playing alongside him. On his podcast, Young challenged Beverley to “state your source” and asserted that he was never intimidated by facing “Patty Bev,” a respected defender over his 12-season career.
Hawks players currently portray Young as a caring leader who initiated a group chat to foster team unity among one of the league`s youngest rosters. For example, during a 111-107 victory against the Orlando Magic, Young was seen smiling and celebrating enthusiastically with rookie Asa Newell after setting him up for a three-pointer and an alley-oop dunk in a tense fourth quarter, as if he had scored the baskets himself.
General Manager Onsi Saleh remarked to reporters before camp, “Last year, he made tremendous strides with the leadership component. I thought he was excellent playing off-ball, and his energy for the game, as well as his interactions with teammates, was great.”
Saleh continued, “We`re very confident in his ability to lead our players, especially with more offensive options like Onyeka, Kristaps, Luke, and Nickeil around him. It`s incredibly exciting, and it reflects the natural progression of a star player. He improves annually, and we anticipate that trend continuing this season.”
However, Young and the Hawks will require patience. The opening night`s surprising 138-118 loss to the Toronto Raptors highlighted that an adjustment period is inevitable with the new roster. Challenges are also expected with nine of their first 14 games being played away from home.
This challenging schedule features two important matchups against the Orlando Magic, another team that made significant offseason improvements and aims to climb the Eastern Conference standings. Already, the Hawks have played two games without Kristaps Porzingis (flu-like symptoms) and Zaccharie Risacher (right ankle sprain). Jalen Johnson (right ankle sprain) also missed Saturday`s loss against the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
Nonetheless, their offseason acquisitions have provided crucial depth, which the Hawks hope will elevate them from a perennial play-in team to a legitimate contender in the East.
Young, the franchise point guard, actively assisted in these roster upgrades. Upon learning the Hawks were pursuing Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard in free agency, he personally called both players to recruit them and highlight the appeal of Atlanta. Alexander-Walker had been informed that stars from various courting teams would contact him during free agency, but only Young reached out to him on multiple occasions.
Alexander-Walker, fresh from two consecutive Western Conference Finals appearances with Anthony Edwards in Minnesota, observes similarities between Young and Edwards. Both possess a level of confidence and competitiveness that can sometimes be perceived negatively by others.
Alexander-Walker explained to ESPN, “Ant (Anthony Edwards) has a very strong personality, and Trae (Young) also has a strong personality; it just manifests differently. When individuals are exceptionally self-confident and self-aware, it can be mistaken for arrogance or cockiness by those who don`t understand.”
He continued, “Trae, Ant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Luka Doncic all possess confidence… But Young still shoulders a significant amount of pressure, and he has achieved success despite it.”
Atlanta`s offseason strategy aimed to alleviate pressure on Young by adding Porzingis, Alexander-Walker, and Kennard, prompting Young to adapt his playing style. Coach Snyder is advocating for a faster pace, encouraging Young to pass the ball upcourt to generate early offense for wing players like Johnson, Risacher, and Daniels, who recently secured a four-year, $100 million extension.
Snyder also plans for Young to play more off-ball, passing the ball to eventually receive it back for easier scoring opportunities – a strategy reminiscent of Stephen Curry with the Golden State Warriors – thereby conserving energy typically spent creating his own shots against defenders.
Kristaps Porzingis, standing 7-2, states his “main mission” is to simplify things for his new point guard. This isn`t his first experience with a dynamic playmaking guard, having played with Luka Doncic in Dallas for two and a half seasons, though that partnership didn`t meet the team`s expectations. Porzingis aims to leverage that past experience to build a more effective on-court relationship with Young.
Comparing Doncic and Young, Porzingis told ESPN, “Their playmaking is at the highest level. They honestly do some similar things. While their physical builds differ, both are masterminds at reading the court and anticipating game developments.”
He added, “That experience (with Doncic in Dallas) will definitely help me. Playing with Luka, combined with having open conversations and dialogue with Trae about his preferences for receiving the ball, will allow me to make his game easier.”
According to ESPN Research, Porzingis and Doncic executed 405 pick-and-pop plays with Doncic as the ballhandler during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, a figure second only to Young and John Collins. However, Young has never played with a center quite like Porzingis, often referred to as “The Unicorn.”
Young, already an expert at the floater with a career total of 752 (the most in the NBA since tracking began in 2013-14, per GeniusIQ), is eager to showcase new aspects of his game playing alongside Porzingis.
Young stated, “I haven`t had a player like him in the NBA. So, I believe people will truly see the different capabilities I possess with a player who can execute pick-and-pop plays and stretch the defense, drawing the center out to 30 feet. I think you`ll see a lot of aspects of my game that I haven`t been able to demonstrate before.”
He added, “Hopefully this year, I`ll get many more catch-and-shoot opportunities, something many don`t believe I can do.”
Young is accustomed to high ball-handling duties, having dribbled 226,906 times – the most of any player since his 2018 debut. However, he`s prepared to reduce his scoring to enhance teammate involvement. His scoring average already decreased from a career-high 29.6 points per game in 2019-20 to 24.2 last season.
Jalen Johnson, who began the season with 22 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds, is developing into a reliable playmaker for Young. Young noted that he and Johnson were establishing strong on-court chemistry before Johnson`s season-ending shoulder injury on January 23.
Johnson, fully recovered from surgery, told ESPN, “I want many people to count us out. What we`re developing behind the scenes is truly special.”
Young is highly optimistic about the Hawks` potential with what he considers his most talented roster to date.
Young asserted, “If we are healthy, I mean the world better be ready for what`s coming.”
Even with Porzingis and Risacher sidelined in Orlando, Young marshaled enough support to overcome a 14-point deficit and secure a surprising victory against the Magic.
Coach Snyder praised Young, stating, “I thought he managed the game as effectively late as I`ve ever seen him. He simply directed players where to go, and our guys responded.”
While four teammates reached double-digit scoring, Young was instrumental in sealing the win. He contributed 11 of his 25 points in the final 5:59, including a signature 15-foot floater that silenced the Orlando crowd with 46.3 seconds remaining. Johnson remarked, “He brought us home.”
It`s perhaps fitting that the Hawks star, seen in an OU hoodie at the team`s practice facility, draws inspiration for silencing critics from another prominent former Oklahoma Sooners quarterback.
Young referenced Baker Mayfield, another OU alumnus, as an example of how winning transforms public perception. Mayfield has led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to consecutive playoff appearances since 2024 and boasts a 6-2 record this season, significantly altering his image. Young expressed, “I get chills talking about it. I know what I can do and what my image will become once I simply win.”
He emphasized, “Win again.”
Over four years ago, Young famously became a villain in New York, bowing and waving goodbye to Knicks fans after his team eliminated them in five games during the 2021 first round. This memorable moment marked the beginning of a surprising journey to the Eastern Conference Finals in only his third season. Young might have anticipated numerous deep playoff runs filled with clutch performances after that initial success. He is not, however, taking this current opportunity for granted, especially with what he considers his most capable supporting cast.
Young stated, “I`m willing to give up the ball. But you need players on the court who first want to make a play with it, and second, can draw defensive attention when they possess the ball.” He concluded, “I feel like we have that now.”
The week prior to camp, Coach Snyder and Young convened to outline their strategy for the season, with “efficiency” being a key topic of discussion. Last season, Young averaged 11.6 assists but recorded a career-low 41.1% field goal percentage and led the league with 4.7 turnovers.
Snyder emphasized, “Efficiency is the key word for Trae. I believe you`ll see him needing to feel the game out more. Some games will require more scoring, while others will involve more passing. His consistent roles will be to push the pace, not just by dribbling but by passing ahead – he`s one of the best at it, if not the best.”
Snyder also highlighted, “He also needs to be defensively efficient every night… We discussed me challenging him, as he genuinely wants to improve each year.”
While established teams like Cleveland and New York, with more time playing together, are projected to be among the top two in the East, the Hawks are optimistic they will coalesce at the opportune moment to make a significant impact in the postseason.
If they succeed, Young could finally silence his critics, much like his former Oklahoma Sooners counterpart, Baker Mayfield, did.
Young noted, “People might form incorrect perceptions of us based on social media or hearsay. I understand how Baker Mayfield was labeled a hothead or crazy. But when you win, he`s then seen as a tenacious competitor. The entire perception shifts simply because of winning. That`s my primary goal: I just want to win.”
He firmly believes, “That`ll change all the narratives.”
