Trae Young gets real on being branded a 'villain'
Trae Young appears to be a player you can just love to hate.
Whether you're pointing at his porous defense or braggadocious playing style, Young tends to get under every opposing team's skin, including their fan base. It's supposed to be that way, though. When you're the best player on a team, being branded the villain is inevitable to some degree.
Young also garners criticism beyond just opponents and their fans. He's seen his reputation questioned more generally around the NBA. He's the "coach killer." He's the player who you can't build around. And most notably, he's the player everybody loves to boo.
Recently, Young sat down with Draymond Green during a live recording of 'The Draymond Green Show,' to discuss his reputation around the NBA. As it turns out, Young is used to playing the part of a bad guy, even though it's not something he enjoys.
"I don't really like being that way, but it's been that way since high school," Young said. "When I was averaging 40 points in my senior year, I was going into other arenas and they were chanting 'overrated'. I'm not that type of person. I'd rather just go out there, put on a show, have fun, smile and get the win."
It can't be fun when you're the target of opposing fans' vitriol. However, Young should take solace in the fact that fans don't usually despise role players. If you're disliked, it's usually because you're good at what you do.
Young might not be an elite defender, but he's certainly one of the most skilled offensive guards in the league. When your team is being torched from multiple feet outside of the three-point line, and there's nothing the defense can do, the easiest thing is to blame the offensive player.
Young will probably never be a popular player among NBA fans, and that's OK. Despite his brilliance, there is a large contingent of NBA fans who dislike LeBron James. Part of being elite is splitting opinions. It's a tough part of the industry, but one that illustrates just how highly you're rated around the NBA.
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