Tree Young’s tears before leaving Atlanta
A new page was turned in Atlanta this week, closing a chapter of more than seven years Trae Young as the leader of the Hawks. The last few days have allowed for legacies to be measured left by the leader in Georgia. If he does no better than the conference finals in 2021, his records for three-pointers (1,295) and assists (4,837) have been in franchise history for some time.
When his trade to the Wizards was made official, Trae Young was seen leaving the bench with a big smile, even before the end of the game against the Pelicans. Yesterday, he revealed to Andscape that he shed a tear during his final drive to State Farm Arena, hours earlier.
His last wish then was to, again, for the last time as a Hawks player, make a few shots before the match and definitely turn the page, he concluded his farewell speech in the locker room.
“It hit me while I was driving to the place in Atlanta,” he confided. “I knew it was going to happen that night or at some point during the day after talking to my agent about it. I literally burst into tears on the way to the gym, knowing that this was probably my last ride, since the Hawks were going to the West Coast next. So whether it happened that day or later, that was the only time I cried during this whole process, in my emotional journey. Just knowing that it was the last time I went to the gym and probably no one expected me to be there.
Right time
Not extended last summer, Trae Young came back motivated at the start of the season before facing the facts.
Not only was his knee injury after a week of competition a blow, but the way Atlanta bounced back without him was confirmation that it was time to move on.
“I wanted to be able to help both sides. And to be honest, I didn’t even want to exercise my option ($48.9 million) this summer just to do that, because it could have left Atlanta with nothing. Even if people wanted to say otherwise, I didn’t even want to talk about it.”he added. “So I wanted to give the first half of the season a chance. And with me and Kristaps Porzingis being hurt, it just seemed like the right time. And Jaylen Johnson was playing really well and I was always trying to help him and get the ball in his hands. So I thought it was time. And I always wanted to do well.”
However, we had to come to terms with the idea of leaving, which was not so easy. Then the Washington option made sense, where he would find Travis Schlenk, the one who brought him to Atlanta seven years earlier.
“I had mixed emotions. I was excited and sad at the same time, because when I was drafted, I never thought about leaving or having to. Growing up in Oklahoma, where I’m from, you have to be loyal. And so I wanted to stay in Atlanta forever. And then, I felt that finding the one who chose me was the most natural, it was natural to know what he wrote to me. I mean, it was completely normal.
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| Trae Young | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | The team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | That | Pd | Ft | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2018-19 | ATL | 81 | 30:54 | 41.8 | 32.4 | 82.9 | 0.8 | 2.9 | 3.7 | 8.1 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 3.8 | 0.2 | 19.1 |
| 2019-20 | ATL | 60 | 35:20 | 43.7 | 36.1 | 86.0 | 0.5 | 3.7 | 4.3 | 9.3 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 4.8 | 0.1 | 29.6 |
| 2020-21 | ATL | 63 | 33:43 | 43.8 | 34.3 | 88.6 | 0.6 | 3.3 | 3.9 | 9.4 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 4.1 | 0.2 | 25.3 |
| 2021-22 | ATL | 76 | 34:54 | 46.0 | 38.2 | 90.4 | 0.7 | 3.1 | 3.7 | 9.7 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 4.0 | 0.1 | 28.4 |
| 2022-23 | ATL | 73 | 34:48 | 42.9 | 33.5 | 88.6 | 0.8 | 2.2 | 3.0 | 10.2 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 4.1 | 0.1 | 26.2 |
| 2023-24 | ATL | 54 | 35:58 | 43.0 | 37.3 | 85.5 | 0.4 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 10.8 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 4.4 | 0.2 | 25.7 |
| 2024-25 | ATL | 76 | 36:02 | 41.1 | 34.0 | 87.5 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 11.6 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 4.7 | 0.2 | 24.2 |
| 2025-26 | ATL | 10 | 28:00 | 41.5 | 30.5 | 86.3 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 8.9 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 2.6 | 0.1 | 19.3 |
How to read statistics? MJ = matches played; Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive jump; Tot = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; Points = Points.
2026-01-11 11:04:00
