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Trae Young Throws Shade at Officials Over Dillon Brooks Altercation

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Gerard Angelo Samillano | Last updated Jan 29, 2025 10:45 AM ET

The final moments of the game between the Atlanta Hawks and the Houston Rockets got a bit chippy. Hawks star Trae Young and Rockets forward Dillon Brooks got into an altercation in the fourth quarter. The altercation saw Brooks grab Young's neck after the two got tangled, with the officials separating them after.

Both Brooks and Young were awarded offsetting technical fouls by the officials, which ultimately had no effect in the game. Regardless, the Hawks star didn't seem too happy with the decision to call a technical on him as well. When asked about it, Young bluntly replied that the NBA needs new people calling fouls.

"I didn't get an explanation [why I got a tech]," Young told reporters, via Jameelah Johnson . They told our coaches that I head-butted [Dillon Brooks]. ... He knew what he was doing. ... These refs are not worth my money, but we do need some new ones."

Brooks has a long history of being involved in altercations and fights more often than not. The Rockets star loves to get under the skin of his opponents, and he often uses physicality as his main tool to annoy opponents. That was on full display here, as Brooks got his hands on the Hawks star to provoke a reaction.

Young finished the game with 21 points, nine assists, and three rebounds in the Hawks' 100-96 loss to the Rockets. Brooks, on the other hand, finished with 11 points in the game. The Hawks fell to ninth in the East with a 22-25 record, while the Rockets improved to 32-14, good for second in the West.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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