Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks may not have had a great run this season, but nobody can erase what they did back in 2021 when they made a run to the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Hawks shocked the world that season and were led by Trae who averaged 25.3 points per game. His shining moment, of course, came in the playoffs when he almost single-handled eliminated the Knicks in the first round. His buzzer-beater in Game 1 was the first step in that miraculous run and he won’t be forgetting it anytime soon. On his self-owned podcast, Young recently looked back on that experience and explained why it remains his favorite game-winning shot to this day.
“It’s the Knicks for sure,” Young said. “Just because it was Game 1 of my first playoffs ever. The atmosphere was crazy. It was just so fun in that arena. Coach drew up a play for me to get the ball in the backcourt, and then John (Collins) was supposed to set a ball screen for me so I can get downhill, and something happened. I think it was his shoe. I think his shoe fell. He lost his shoe. And I just kind of told him to get out the way, and then I was just going to try to create for myself or create for somebody else. But, yeah, that’s kind of what happened. I went and just kind of made a play on Frank and got to my floater. I think I got it. It should have been an and-1, but the moment and everything that happened, they couldn’t call a foul. But I’m happy it went in, for sure.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujy7hN-THb8
It was a career-defining moment for Trae, who showed the world back then what he could do as a leader and scorer for the Hawks. This season, through 73 games, Young averaged 26.2 points, 10.2 assists, and 3 rebounds per game on 42% shooting. Sadly, after barely making the playoffs, Trae was unable to take the Hawks back to the Conference Finals and there are doubts he can get them back. To make matters worse, his leadership is also being called into question following accusations of a toxic culture in Atlanta.
Only Trae can silence the critics now, and the only way to do that will be to find success in the playoffs. This year was obviously a major dud for him, but there is some hope that the Hawks can improve with Quin Snyder at the helm.
Can Trae Win A Title With The Hawks?
After a disappointing season, the Hawks brought in Quin Snyder with hopes that he would change the culture from within. Sadly, he didn’t have enough time to instill his system, but there is hope in what he can do with a full summer of preparation.
“Quin is the future,” Young said. “I believe with him here, this city’s going to win a championship. It’s just about bringing in the right pieces for him. … I think he’s gonna be great for us. I’m excited for the future with him.”
Only time will show how the Hawks progress in the Snyder era, but their success begins and ends with Trae. If he can find the same magic that wiped out the Knicks a few years ago, it may be enough to ignite a huge playoff run.
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