Hawks’ Trae Young Says Being Called ‘Selfish’ Bothers Him A Lot

Young has been called selfish by some coaches and anonymous NBA execs. The three-time All-Star has also been dubbed a “coach killer” since Lloyd Pierce and Nate McMillan were fired. 

The Hawks have made the playoffs three times in the Young era, which began in 2018-19. They reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021 but have lost in the first round of the postseason the last two years. 

Young has career averages of 25.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 9.5 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.2 blocks with the Hawks. He’s a gifted offensive player but a below-average defender. 

The Hawks signed Young a five-year, $215 million extension with the Hawks in August 2021. Young will make $43 million next season and $45 million in 2025-26.

Young is averaging 26.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 10.8 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.2 blocks this season while shooting 42.6% from the field, 37.1% from beyond the arc and 85.6% from the free-throw line. He has 35 double-doubles in 51 starts.

Young is currently out after undergoing finger surgery. The Oklahoma product needed surgery after an MRI revealed a tear of the radial collateral ligament in his left pinkie. 

The Hawks are in 10th place in the East with a record of 27-34. It’s unknown if Young will play again this season. He is scheduled to be re-evaluated in four weeks.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Hawks “know” they have to trade Young or Dejounte Murray this summer. Both Young and Murray are represented by Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group. 

NBA reporter Howard Beck of The Ringer reported in February that the Hawks discussed a Young trade with the San Antonio Spurs before this year’s trade deadline.

Young doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract, so he can’t control where he gets traded if Atlanta chooses to move him this offseason.