Young Reflects on Hawks Tenure, Cites Lack of Double-Team Draw
Trae Young said on a podcast that he never had a teammate who could draw double teams during his time with the Atlanta Hawks. The article examines whether the Hawks provided enough star help, referencing the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals run and Dejounte Murray's arrival. Young's comments have generated significant fan reaction.
Young's comments arrive after his offseason move to Washington, where he now plays alongside a younger core. During his Atlanta years, the Hawks' deepest playoff run came in 2021, though that path included favorable matchups against a limited Knicks squad and a 76ers team hampered by Ben Simmons' struggles. The following season, Young posted career-best numbers and earned All-NBA honors, yet the Hawks fell to Miami in the first round, exposing the need for another playmaker.
That need prompted Atlanta to acquire Dejounte Murray, but the pairing never clicked, producing a combined 55-62 record over two seasons. Both guards required the ball to be effective, creating redundancy rather than complementary scoring. Young's assertion about lacking a teammate who could command double-teams speaks to a broader roster-building question: whether Atlanta ever truly surrounded its franchise point guard with the right complementary star.
Young's comments could reshape how fans and analysts evaluate his Atlanta tenure, shifting some blame from individual performance to front-office roster construction. This may influence how future free agents and stars assess team situations, particularly regarding whether organizations provide adequate supporting talent. The discourse also highlights broader NBA debates about player empowerment and accountability, potentially affecting how Hawks management is perceived in future negotiations and how Young's legacy is framed as his Washington chapter begins.