Will Trae Young Follow Baker Mayfield’s Path? The thought made him shiver

From the start of the 2025-26 NBA season. Atlanta Hawks All-Star Tree Young had big dreams for his team this year. Maybe that’s the biggest reason Young isn’t worried about the contract situation. It is focused on silencing its naysayers, which is a product of OU Baker Mayfield may refer to. The current season for the Hawks is, in many ways, very important.

Young believes in the talent he is surrounded by, which he says can lead to a successful season. Using Mayfield as an example imprisoning the doubtershe said, according to ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk.

“You see him playing with another OU guy right now with Baker Mayfield and what a win means to somebody,” Young said of the quarterback who changed the public’s perception of himself by leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to back-to-back playoff appearances since 2024 and a 6-2 record this season. “I get goosebumps talking about it. I know what I can do or what my picture looks like when I just win.

“Win again.”

It’s been five years since the Hawks last made a deep playoff run, Young’s first, and he’s itching to do it again this season, surrounded by an experienced and young group of teammates such as 2024 NBA champion Kristaps Porzingis, coming off back-to-back Western Conference appearances, who could play in the Western Conference Finals, forwards 20.0 points per game this season in Jalen Williams.

“I’m willing to pass the ball,” Young said. “You just have to have guys out there who want the ball to be played first, and second, who can get some attention when they get the ball.

“I feel like we have that now.”

As Mayfield was described by many as a “hot head” before he found success in the NFL, Young feels he can relate to the false narratives.

Quin Snyder on Trae Young, Hawks’ upcoming season

Coach Quin Snyder believes the Hawks will succeed at a high level if Hawks All-Star Trae Young can find consistency on both ends of the floor. Snyder knows Young is one of the best passers in the NBA and will find a way to fit in with this year’s talented roster.

“The key word for Trae is efficiency,” Snyder said. “I think you’re going to see Tree have to feel the game in some ways. … There are games where he’s going to score more. There are games where he’s going to pass more. The constants are going to be his forced pace, not just pushing the ball off the dribble, but passing forward. He was one of the best forward passers, if not the best.

“The other thing he has to do every night is be effective defensively. … One of the things we’ve talked about is I’ve been challenging him. … He wants to get better every year.”

The Hawks will face the Bulls on Monday.