Hawks' Young refuses to 'Fred VanVleet' officials after loss

Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young. Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Hawks' Trae Young refuses to 'Fred VanVleet' officials after loss

By Sean Keane | Last updated Mar 13, 2023 3:31 PM ET

Trae Young didn't know why he got a late technical. But he kept his comments family-friendly.

“I’m not gonna Fred Vanvleet these folks”

WATCH: Trae Young Talks the Hawks (134-125) Loss To the Boston Celtics & More (Postgame 3-11-23).

Full postgame presser on https://t.co/J5bUDTDn8u (@theseurbantimes) #NBA #TrueToAtlanta pic.twitter.com/Pv3jPptkvL
— Terrell Thomas (@Eldorado2452) March 12, 2023

Young told reporters that he was baffled by the technical foul he received after Marcus Smart body slammed him late in the Celtics-Hawks game Saturday night.

Marcus Smart and Trae Young got into it during Celtics-Hawks pic.twitter.com/Dz1qOBFRdr
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 12, 2023

Still, Young said, “I’m not gonna Fred VanVleet these people. I’m just going to keep it there.”

Young was referring to VanVleet's profane tirade against referee Ben Taylor Wednesday night, where he called Taylor "f-ing terrible" and complained about a "bull-" technical foul, one of three he's received from Taylor this season. The NBA fined VanVleet $30K afterward, so perhaps Young simply wanted to escape with just a $4K fine.

According to the pool report, Young got his technical because he got up and pointed in Smart's face. Smart didn't talk to reporters after the game, but it looked like he got mad because — intentionally or not — his foot contacted Smart's groin.

He's lucky Smart didn't "Fred VanVleet" him afterward!

Sean Keane

Sean Keane is a sportswriter and a comedian based in Oakland, California, with experience covering the NBA, MLB, NFL and Ice Cube’s three-on-three basketball league, The Big 3. He’s written for Comedy Central’s “Another Period,” ESPN the Magazine, and Audible. com

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