What Quinn Snyder says about bringing Tree Young into the lineup

Trae Young is back on the floor for Atlanta Hawks after missing more than a month while recovering from a sprained right MCL. In his first game back, Young finished with eight points and 10 assists while playing just 20 minutes. That could be the story of Young’s minutes over the next few games as the Hawks try to integrate him back into the lineup while making sure not to push him too much after missing so much time.

Young missed the second game of a back-to-back against the San Antonio Spurs, but was available two days later against the Chicago Bulls. Before that game, the head coach Quinn Snyder he was asked about the challenges that arose when Young returned to the lineup.

“There’s a real acclimation process that we just have to continue to work on, so we know it’s going to take some time,” Snyder said. “That doesn’t mean you don’t have an urgency when you’re pushing it forward.”

Quinn on the challenges of bringing Treo back into the lineup:

“There’s a real acclimation process that we just have to keep working on, so we know it’s going to take time.”

“No matter how connected you are when you play a certain part of the games, teams evolve. And now… pic.twitter.com/TITTda26sh

— Malik Brown (@_MalikATL) December 21, 2025

“No matter how connected you are when you play a certain part of the games, teams evolve. And now we have to evolve again.”

While Young could be an easy addition for the Hawks, they’ve also integrated more playmaking since he’s been gone. He also hasn’t practiced much with the team, which is also important when trying to get him back into the lineup.

Trae Young trying to come back from injury

After his first game back, Yang noted that he felt fine and it was a good first step for him to get back on the floor.

“Obviously, you want to give as much as you can in those minutes that you’re out there, but you also don’t want to press,” Young said. “It’s a fine line you have to walk. It’s easier said than done, and people probably expect different things, but it’s not an easy thing. Especially since this is my first, especially coming back in the regular season. I came back without a minutes limit in the last one, and I was out for a while because it was going into the playoffs/playoffs. This is just a little different to trust them.

“Like it or not, I just have to trust them and let the people who have helped me through the rehabilitation process continue to do so.”

The more Young plays, the more he should be able to fit into what the Hawks were able to do while he was gone.