Just a few years ago, the Atlanta Hawks looked like a team on the rise after making the Eastern Conference Finals. Led by Trae Young, John Collins, and a solid supporting cast of talented players, Atlanta was truly an opponent to be feared.
But the Hawks haven’t been able to replicate that magic since the big run, and Trae Young’s lack of leadership may be a big reason why. In an article by Bill Reiter of CBS Sports, he details how the Hawks have fallen apart and the role that Young played in what has been an underwhelming campaign so far this season.
“Starting with the locker room, it’s no secret there’s a serious disconnect between Young, the team’s star player, and many — though some say nearly all — of his teammates. He is not beloved, sources say, and there’s a strong view that Young fails to lead, to understand or care to understand what is required of him, and that as a result the team will never achieve what it should until that reality is fixed.”
On paper, Trae still looks like an elite-level point guard. This season alone, he’s averaging 27.1 points, 10.1 assists, and 2.9 rebounds per game. While the efficiency has not been there, Trae is clearly still a guy who can get you 20 and 10 on any given night.
Unfortunately, it seems his leadership leaves much to be desired, and that has been reflected in Atlanta’s 31-31 record this season.
What’s Next For Trae Young And The Hawks?
With Nate McMillan gone and replaced with head coach Quin Snyder, there is hope that the Hawks can turn this season around and resemble more of the team that sent the Knicks home in 2021. It will take time to instill his system, of course, but Snyder already has experience coaching stars and their big personalities.
As for Trae, there have been rumblings that he will ask out of Atlanta within the next year, but nothing along those lines has been confirmed at this time.
All the Hawks can do at this point is hold firm, wait out the season, and re-assess their future this summer when they can actually make some moves.
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