Trae Young had perhaps the game of his life on Sunday in tribute to Kobe Bryant, and the stat sheet reflected as much.
The Atlanta Hawks guard put up 45 points, six rebounds, and 14 assists in a win over the Washington Wizards, and the line was rife with Bryant-related statistical coincidences.
Young attempted 24 shots on the day (24 was Bryant’s jersey number for the second half of his career) and shot 81 percent (13-for-16) from the free-throw line (81 was Bryant’s famous career-high in points).
The 21-year-old was also the first player to put up such a stat line (a 45-point double-double with under 25 field goal attempts) against Washington since…you guessed it, Kobe Bryant. Young acknowledged as much on Twitter afterward, saying that Bryant “was with me tonight.”
Young began the game wearing No. 8 (Bryant’s original jersey number) as a tribute in the wake of the 41-year-old’s untimely passing, and the special stat line was a fitting homage to Bryant as well.
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