It has been a disappointing season for the Atlanta Hawks who entered the All-Star break with a 29-30 record. While the play on the court hasn’t been great, there have been issues off it as well and Tuesday night saw the franchise make a big change.
Head coach Nate McMillan was fired, with Adrian Wojnarowski reporting that the change was made now with the hope that the season could be saved. It really was only a matter of time before McMillan departed, as there were tensions between him and Trae Young.
Young has now come under heavy criticism, with George Karl, who had called him out previously as well over his issues with McMillan, taking a shot at him. Karl pointed to the difference between him and Nikola Jokic, implying that Trae is a selfish player.
It’s a Trae Young vs a Nikola Jokic League. Me first vs We first.
— George Karl (@CoachKarl22) February 22, 2023
“It’s a Trae Young vs a Nikola Jokic League. Me first vs We first.”
Karl had coached McMillan when he was a player and had once named him as his favorite among all the players he coached, so this is a bit personal. He does perhaps bring up a fair point though, as Young might come across as a me-first person. Some of his teammates reportedly don’t like him and he had also been fined last year for taking a private jet and not flying back with the team after a playoff defeat. Contrast that with Jokic, who is beloved by his teammates and always puts the team first before himself. Every team would love for their best player to act in this manner, but, unfortunately, many of them don’t.
What Next For Trae And The Hawks?
No matter who they hire to be their next coach at this point, it is safe to say they aren’t going to make a whole lot of noise in the postseason if they make it in. The Hawks seem a couple of pieces away from being a contender and that has led to rumors that Young might not be there much longer.
An NBA insider revealed that Young will want to leave the Hawks after this season, with the Los Angeles Lakers being a potential destination, as Trae is represented by Klutch Sports. If the Lakers are unable to land Kyrie Irving in the summer, then they could pursue Young, if he does demand a trade. It is definitely going to be a situation to keep an eye on.
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