During Friday’s game vs. Toronto, Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young suffered a left hand injury. He underwent an MRI yesterday at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex, which revealed a tear of the radial collateral ligament (RCL) in the fifth finger of his left hand. He will undergo surgery to repair the RCL on Tuesday at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York and will be re-evaluated in four weeks.
Tag: trae young
Hawks look good in first play-in tournament game
Here’s the Atlanta Journal Constitution on the Atlanta Hawks, who stepped up nicely against the Hornets in their first 2022 play-in tournament game:
They hardly looked like a No. 9 seed just trying to get into the playoffs. I’m sure I’m not the only one tired of hearing about last year, but there’s no way around it after that performance.
The Hawks opened their 2022 postseason looking like the intense and determined team that made it to the 2021 Eastern Conference finals. They’ll have to win again at Cleveland on Friday to earn the East’s No. 8 seed and a first-round series against top-seeded Miami. It’s a road game against a gritty opponent instead of a home game against a squad that prefers to run and shoot.
“It’s going to be tight; it’s going to be loud,” Hawks center Clint Capela said.
I still have some questions about how the Hawks would respond in a hotly contested elimination game on the road. I have fewer of them after the 132-103 victory over the Hornets…
The Hornets tried to make Hawks star Trae Young a nonfactor by forcing him to give up the ball. Young thwarted their plans with a masterful floor game, and his teammates converted most of their scoring chances. The Hornets wanted to run at every opportunity. The Hawks didn’t give them many chances because they took care of the ball and ran back to recover before the Hornets could attack.
2022 NBA All-Star Weekend: 3-Point Contest participants
NBA All-Stars Zach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls, Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Fred VanVleet of the Toronto Raptors and Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks headline the 2022 NBA 3-Point Contest, which will take place on Saturday, Feb. 19 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland.
The eight-player field for the two-round, timed shooting competition also features guard CJ McCollum of the Portland Trail Blazers (though he will reportedly soon be traded to the New Orleans Pelicans), guard Desmond Bane of the Memphis Grizzlies, guard Luke Kennard of the LA Clippers and guard Patty Mills of the Brooklyn Nets.
Atlanta Hawks sign Trae Young to contract extension
The Atlanta Hawks yesterday announced the team has signed guard Trae Young to a contract extension, which begins with the 2022-23 season.
“This is a great day for the Hawks franchise and the city of Atlanta. Trae is a special player and person who from Day One, embraced being a leader on the court and in our community. We are excited to have him as the cornerstone of our program long-term as we work toward our goal of bringing a championship to Atlanta,” said Hawks President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Travis Schlenk.
Per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “according to people familiar with the situation, Young’s is a max deal for five years and as much as $207 million, if he makes an All-NBA team next season.”
“I’m grateful to the Hawks, the Ressler family, my teammates and the entire Atlanta community for embracing me from the very beginning,” Young said. “I’m honored and excited to keep building with this great organization.”
Most recently, Young helped lead the Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second time in Atlanta franchise history, averaging 28.8 ppg and 9.5 apg during the team’s run, becoming the first player in NBA history to post at least 20 points and seven-or-more assists in each of his first 13 career playoff games. In Game 1 of the Hawks’ Eastern Conference Finals win (6/23 at MIL), Young finished with a postseason-career-high 48 points, adding 11 assists and seven rebounds in 41 minutes, becoming the first player in league history with at least 45 points and 10 assists in a Conference Finals game.
During the 2020-21 regular season, Young put in 25.3 points (14th in the NBA), 9.4 assists (2nd) and 3.9 rebounds in 33.7 minutes (.438 FG%, .343 3FG%, .886 FT%), leading the NBA in free throws made (484). He was the only qualifying player to average at least 25 ppg and 9 apg.
The Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the final week of the regular season, Young became the fastest Hawk (167 career games) to score 4,000 points on 2/17 at Boston. On 1/29 at Washington, Young became the fastest player in league history (159 games) to reach 400 career three-pointers.
In the 2020-21 season opener on 12/23 at Chicago, Young poured in a game-high 37 points on 10-12 FGs, 5-6 3FGs and 12-14 FTs in 26 minutes, setting an NBA record for most points scored by a player who took 12-or-fewer field goal attempts.
Since the start of his rookie season, Young ranks second in the NBA in total assists (1807) and fourth in three-pointers made (1308). He has compiled 63 games of 20-or-more points and 10-or-more assists, second-most in the league (James Harden, 65). His 31 30-point/10-assist contests is also second-most during that span (Harden, 33). Young has 63 career games of 30-or-more points, the most in Hawks franchise history over their first three seasons (Bob Pettit, 58). He has gone for 40-or-more points 16 times in his career, tying LeBron James for the third-most by a player in his first three seasons since 1976-77 (Michael Jordan 44, Shaquille O’Neal 19).
An All-Star starter for the Eastern Conference in 2020, Young appeared in 60 games in 2019-20, averaging 29.6 points (4th in the NBA), 9.3 assists (2nd in the league), 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 35.3 minutes (.437 FG%, .361 3FG%, .860 FT%).
As a rookie in 2018-19, Young was a unanimous selection to the NBA All-Rookie First Team after averaging 19.1 points, 8.1 assists and 3.7 rebounds in 30.9 minutes (.418 FG%, .324 3FG%, .829 FT%) in 81 contests (all starts). Among qualifying rookies, Young ranked 1st in apg, 2nd in ppg and FT%, 3rd in mpg, 6th in spg and 10th in rpg.
Hawks guard Trae Young out with sprained ankle
Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young, who left last night’s game at New York due to a sprained left ankle, had an X-ray taken at Madison Square Garden, which came back negative.
Following an MRI today at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex, he was diagnosed with a lateral left ankle sprain.
Young will be listed as out for tomorrow’s game vs. Miami and Sunday vs. Milwaukee.
Hawks holding few full practices so far in this unusual NBA season
It’s been a season of adjustments for all 30 NBA teams, including the Hawks. Via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
The last time the Hawks had a full-on practice, they were in Phoenix and had the opportunity to do so only because their game against the Suns on Jan. 13 was canceled because of contact tracing…
With nine new players on the roster and largely a young roster, at that, the Hawks could use more practice time to build up chemistry and simply iron out any kinks. But, because of the new schedule, they’ve probably had only four full-on, live-contact practices since their season started Dec. 23, Pierce estimated.
Of course, every team is in a similar situation to the Hawks, in that adhereing to safety standards and keeping life simpler than usual is more important than trying to squeeze in as many practices as possible.
The Hawks are 8-7 this season. In yesterday’s 116-98 win over the Timberwolves, two Hawks put up monster games: Trae Young had 43 points, four rebounds and five assists, while Clint Capela had a special kind of triple-double of 13 points, 19 rebounds and 10 blocks.
Atlanta Hawks exercise contract options on Trae Young, Kevin Huerter, De’Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish
The Atlanta Hawks have exercised the fourth-year (2021-22) contract options on Kevin Huerter and Trae Young, along with the third-year (2021-22) options on De’Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish.
Entering his third season with the Hawks, Huerter last season averaged 12.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 31.4 minutes (.413 FG%, .380 3FG%, .828 FT%) in 56 contests (48 starts). He finished second on the team with 127 3FGM, including two games with a career-high-tying six triples. He scored in double-figures 35 times, including six games with 20-or-more points. Through 131 contests (107 starts) in two seasons, he holds career averages of 10.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 29.1 minutes (.416 FG%, .383 3FG%, .783 FT%). The 19th overall pick in 2018, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2018-19.
Also entering his third year and an Eastern Conference All-Star starter last season, Young put up 29.6 points, 9.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 35.3 minutes (.437 FG%, .361 3FG%, .860 FT%) in 60 starts, ranking second in the NBA in assists, fourth in scoring, 10th in minutes and 26th in free-throw percentage. Young led the Eastern Conference in assists for the second straight season and hit double digits in scoring 57 times, including 49 contests with at least 20 points. Through 141 games (all starts) in his two seasons, he’s averaged 23.6 points, 8.6 assists and 3.7 rebounds in 32.8 minutes (.428 FG%, .344 3FG%, .847 FT%). Young, the fifth overall pick in 2018, was a unanimous selection to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2018-19.
As a rookie last season, Hunter averaged 12.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 32.0 minutes (.410 FG%, .355 3FG%, .764 FT%). Among qualifying rookies, he ranked first in minutes per game, fifth in free-throw percentage, tied for fifth in three-point percentage, sixth in rebounding, seventh in field goal percentage and tied for seventh in scoring. He scored in double-figures 42 times, including eight games with 20-or-more, and recorded 15 games with at least three three-pointers, the third-highest total by a rookie in Hawks history. The fourth overall pick in 2019, he is one of three rookies in league history to reach 12.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.8 apg, 32.0 mpg and 100 triples on .350 3FG% (Stephen Curry, Shane Battier).
Reddish averaged 10.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.1 steals in 26.7 minutes as a rookie last season. Among qualifying first-year players, he ranked second in steals per game, ninth in minutes per game, three-point percentage and blocks per game, 11th in points and rebounds per game. He placed second among rookies in steals (62) and had at least eight games with three steals, the second-highest total among rookies. The 10th overall pick in 2019, Reddish was also one of three rookies last season to compile at least 100 FTM (101) and 80 3FGM (83).
Hawks guard Trae Young exits game vs Bucks with ankle sprain
Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young sustained a right ankle sprain during Friday’s home game against the Milwaukee bucks.
He underwent an X-Ray at State Farm Arena, which was negative. Young will not travel with the team to Chicago and will remain in Atlanta to receive treatment.
According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, “Young was called for an offensive foul when he drove the lane with 1:32 remaining in the second quarter. He appeared to twist his ankle as he fell to the ground following a collision with the Bucks’ D.J. Wilson. Young needed to be helped off the court by John Collins and Kevin Huerter. He immediately went to the locker room.”
The Bucks, who are already without guard Eric Bledsoe and today were without superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, won the game, 112-86.
Young scored 12 points in 15 minutes before exiting the game with the injury. He’s having a fantastic season for the struggling Hawks, who have a league-worst 6-26 record.
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James Harden scores 60 points in 31 minutes vs Hawks
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James Harden had himself a game on Saturday.
Well, three quarters of a game.
Playing 30 minutes and 41 seconds and then sitting out the fourth quarter, the superstar Rockets guard shot 16 of 24, including 8 of 14 from three-point range, and hit 20 of 23 free throws for 60 points, eight assists and three steals.
The Rockets beat the Hawks easily, 158-111.
In the loss, Hawks guard Trae Young put up 37 points and seven assists.
According to ESPN.com, “it was Harden’s fourth career 60-point game, tying him with Michael Jordan for third most in NBA history, trailing only Kobe Bryant (six) and Wilt Chamberlain (32). Harden is the only active player who has scored 60 points more than once.”
The Rockets are now 13-6 for the season.
Hawks sign Trae Young, Kevin Huerter, Omari Spellman
The Atlanta Hawks have signed rookies Trae Young, Kevin Huerter and Omari Spellman.
Drafted 19th overall by the Hawks in the 2018 NBA Draft, Huerter averaged 14.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 34.4 minutes (.503 FG%, .417 3FG%, .758 FT%) as a sophomore at Maryland while starting 32 games, garnering All-Big 10 Honorable Mention and All-Academic Big 10 honors. He ranked fourth in the conference in minutes per game and ninth in 3FG%. For his career, the 6’7 Huerter posted 12.0 points, 5.0 rebound and 3.0 assists in 31.9 minutes (.466 FG%, .394 3FG%, .748 FT%) in 65 games (all starts).
Spellman, the 30th overall pick by Atlanta in the 2018 NBA Draft, entered the draft after a redshirt freshman season at Villanova that saw him named the Big East Freshman of the Year while helping the Wildcats to the 2018 National Championship. He averaged 10.9 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 28.1 minutes (.476 FG%, .433 3FG%, .700 FT%) in 40 games (39 starting assignments). He ranked second in the Big East in blocks and fourth in both rebounding and 3FG% in 2017-18.
An early-entry candidate, the 6’2 Young was a consensus First Team All-American as a freshman at Oklahoma after becoming the first player in NCAA Division I history to lead the nation in scoring (27.4 ppg) and assists (8.7 apg), while also averaging 3.9 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 35.4 minutes (.422 FG%, .360 3FG%, .861 FT%) in 32 games (all starts). His scoring average was the highest in Big 12 history and his assists per game rank second on the all-time list. The Wayman Tisdale National Freshman of the Year award winner, Young was also a unanimous All-Big 12 First Team selection and named the conference’s Freshman and Newcomer of the Year. He was selected fifth overall by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2018 NBA Draft before the Hawks acquired his rights, along with a 2019 first-round draft pick, in exchange for the third overall selection, Luka Doncic.
The three Hawks rookies join second-year players John Collins, Tyler Dorsey, Antonius Cleveland and Jaylen Morris on Atlanta’s summer league team, which will begin competition on Monday in Utah vs. Memphis (7 p.m. ET, NBA TV).