Trae Young: The Most Polarizing Player in the NBA Today

Trae Young is arguably one of the most polarizing players in the NBA. Opinions on him are split: on one hand, critics argue that his defensive weaknesses and high-usage offensive style hurt his team’s overall performance. On the other hand, his supporters point to his undeniable offensive brilliance, noting that Atlanta’s offense has consistently ranked among the top in the league, thanks to Young’s contributions. This division of opinion has persisted for years, as Young’s individual brilliance on offense has yet to fully translate into sustained team success for the Atlanta Hawks.

The Critics: Questioning Trae Young’s Impact

There is no shortage of critics who claim that Trae Young’s style of play makes it difficult for the Hawks to become a consistently winning team. While his offensive statistics are undeniably impressive, with Young regularly ranking among the league leaders in points and assists, skeptics argue that his dominance with the ball and defensive shortcomings limit his overall impact.

The Hawks’ inconsistent performances in recent years further fuel this argument. Despite reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021, the Hawks have generally underperformed in the regular season, and their playoff success has been fleeting. Many detractors point to the lack of wins and sustained success as evidence that Trae Young, while talented, may not be the type of player who can lead a team to a championship.

The Supporters: Praising Trae Young’s Offensive Brilliance

On the other side of the debate are those who argue that Young’s offensive production makes him a legitimate star and that Atlanta’s front office has not provided him with adequate support. Every year, the Hawks rank near the top of the league in offensive efficiency, with Young orchestrating their attack. This is especially impressive given the overall talent level on the roster, which is often described as being built around role players rather than fellow stars.

Young’s backers also point out that he is one of the best playmakers in the league, averaging over nine assists per game throughout his career. His ability to create shots for teammates, combined with his own elite scoring ability, has earned him two All-Star appearances and made him the face of the Hawks franchise.

Yet, even his staunchest defenders admit that his defense leaves much to be desired. Young’s size (6’1″, 180 lbs) and defensive awareness have been areas of concern since he entered the league. However, many argue that these deficiencies can be mitigated if the Hawks build a roster with stronger defenders around him, similar to how teams like the Warriors have masked Steph Curry’s defensive weaknesses.

The Atlanta Hawks: Struggling to Build Around Trae Young

Part of the debate surrounding Trae Young also centers on the Hawks’ front office and their roster-building efforts. Since Young was drafted in 2018, the team has struggled to find the right mix of players to complement him. While they’ve surrounded him with quality role players like Clint Capela and Bogdan Bogdanovic, they’ve lacked another true star to share the offensive load and elevate the team to championship contention.

The acquisition of Dejounte Murray in the 2022 offseason was supposed to change that. Murray, a former All-Star known for his defense and playmaking, was seen as the perfect backcourt partner for Young. However, the pairing didn’t work as seamlessly as Atlanta had hoped. The team still struggled to find consistent success, and Murray was traded away after just one season. This failed experiment highlighted the difficulty of building a winning team around a ball-dominant player like Young, who thrives with the ball in his hands but struggles to adapt when playing off the ball.

Young himself has voiced his frustrations with the lack of star talent around him. In a recent podcast appearance, he candidly discussed his experience in Atlanta, noting that the team has never surrounded him with another true star. He emphasized that most of the players drafted or acquired by the Hawks are role players, not franchise-altering talents. Young’s comments, while honest, raised eyebrows, as they appeared to diminish the importance of his current teammates, including Zachary Riche, the Hawks’ first overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

The 2024 NBA Draft Class: A Role Player-Focused Draft?

Trae Young’s remarks about the 2024 NBA Draft class also stirred controversy. While many NBA observers had already labeled this draft class as lacking star power, Young was unusually blunt in his assessment. He noted that most of the players in the draft, including Riche, were likely to be high-level role players rather than future franchise cornerstones.

Young isn’t wrong in his evaluation of the draft class, but his decision to publicly voice these thoughts, particularly about his new teammate, was surprising. Though he did praise Riche’s defensive abilities and physical attributes, Young’s assessment that Riche would likely be a complementary player underscored the ongoing challenges the Hawks face in their roster construction. For a team that has long struggled to find another star to pair with Young, the selection of a player seen as a role player with the first overall pick could be seen as a step in the wrong direction.

The Perception of Trae Young: Selfish or Misunderstood?

One of the most intriguing aspects of the Trae Young debate is the perception of him as a selfish player. Statistically, it’s hard to make that argument—Young’s assist numbers are among the best in the league, and he has often stated that he would rather get an assist than score. However, the sheer amount of time he spends with the ball in his hands has led some to view his high assist numbers as a byproduct of usage rather than unselfish play.

Comparisons to players like James Harden and Russell Westbrook, who also put up impressive assist numbers but were criticized for dominating the ball, are common. Like Harden and Westbrook, Young’s style of play has led to questions about whether he can adjust and thrive alongside another star player. His failed partnership with Murray only fueled these concerns, as Young’s reluctance to play off the ball became a focal point of the Hawks’ struggles last season.

Young, for his part, has dismissed these criticisms, saying that he no longer worries about what people think of him. He has also expressed frustration with the lack of recognition he receives from coaches and peers, pointing out that he has been snubbed from All-Star teams despite his statistical dominance. Whether this is due to lingering perceptions of selfishness or simply the result of the Hawks’ lack of team success is up for debate.

The Future of Trae Young in Atlanta

As the 2024-25 NBA season approaches, the future of Trae Young and the Hawks remains uncertain. With the team’s decision to move on from Murray and focus on younger players like Riche and Dyson Daniels, there are questions about whether Young will still be part of Atlanta’s long-term plans. If the Hawks continue to struggle, it’s possible that Young could be traded, bringing an end to the Trae Young era in Atlanta.

However, if the Hawks’ young players develop quickly and the team can find a way to build around Young’s unique talents, there’s still a chance for success. At just 25 years old, Young is still entering his prime, and with the right supporting cast, he could lead the Hawks back to the Eastern Conference Finals or beyond.