The recent back-and-forth between Patrick Beverley and Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young has been a fresh source of entertainment this offseason. After Young’s latest retort, Beverley responded with his own. However, some of the points the former Clippers guard made raised some intriguing questions about the Hawks’ star.
While speaking on the “Pat Bev Pod with Rone“, Beverley criticized Young’s leadership skills by pointing out his decision to work out in different facilities. He said:
“Every time we see you, you’re working out at another place. We never see you in the Hawks arena working out. What teammate? What leader?!”
Beverley continued by recalling his experiences training with the Lakers, the Bucks, and the Rockets, and noting how each team’s star player would be working out at the facility before him. He continued:
“You’re the only person we see on the internet who’s never at your practice facility. It’s wild. If we’re going to be real, let’s be real: You’re not a great leader. Can you be a great leader? Yes. Yes, you can. Will it take this? Probably so.”
“I hope this is motivating you. I hope that you get to the end of the year and you fight for a playoff spot. I hope that this is so f***ing motivating that this takes you to the ECF… I like to see you at halfcourt shivering those little a** shoulders. But don’t get it twisted, Trae…You don’t win. People get fired.”
Beverley’s comments may seem like an animated reaction to Young’s initial response, but it is difficult to ignore the underlying sentiment of what was said.
As a star, Young bears a lot of responsibility to help his franchise be successful. When additionally factoring in his role as the team’s point guard, Young has an even greater impact on the team’s performance.
In this regard, Beverley’s statement about the Hawks’ star not being seen working out at the Hawks’ facility also holds. Given that he was seen working out with Michael Porter Jr. recently, something that stirred trade rumors as well, Young may not be doing much to cement his position as the team’s leader in the media.
But is this truly a critique of his leadership ability? That seems unlikely.
At 27, Young is among the most gifted point guards in the league today. Last season, he averaged 24.2 points and 11.6 assists. emerging as the league’s leader in assists, on 41.1% shooting from the field. In light of his tremendous performance, the Hawks’ star showcased his ability to create offensive opportunities for his team.
Even so, Atlanta was a middling team in the 2024-25 season, as they finished eighth in the East with a 40-42 record. Considering that they were knocked out of the Play-In tournament, this gives critics additional reason to question Young’s leadership.
But this criticism may also be excessive. Given how limited the roster was, expecting him to single-handedly lead them to the playoffs could be unrealistic.
When armed with sufficient talent, the four-time All-Star has shown that he is capable of leading a solid campaign, as is evident from Atlanta’s consecutive appearances between 2021 and 2023.
In this regard, the upcoming season will be a more accurate test of Young’s abilities as a leader and franchise player.
This offseason saw a reinvigorated effort from Atlanta’s front office to improve its roster. Following major trades and noteworthy signings, the Hawks surrounded their star with a stronger supporting cast and are now poised to be one of the best teams in the conference.
Apart from an improved roster, the Hawks’ star will also be vying for a contract extension with the team. Reports suggest Atlanta will monitor the team’s performance in the upcoming season, a stance that has caused some friction between the player and the franchise.
Regardless, the upcoming season presents a unique opportunity for Young to prove a lot of naysayers wrong.
With teams like the Celtics, Pacers, Bucks, and the 76ers falling out of contention due to roster issues, the Hawks are in a position to rise to the top, increasing their chances of making a deep postseason run.
If Young can bring the best out of the Hawks’ new and improved roster, there is enough talent and evidence to suggest that they could compete for the title, too.
