NBA Joins Fortnite with 'The Crossover' Event Featuring Trae Young, Donovan Mitchell
May 19, 2021
ATLANTA, GA - MAY 13: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks awaits the pass during the first half against the Orlando Magic at State Farm Arena on May 13, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
The NBA and Fortnite are teaming up for a special event ahead of the 2021 NBA postseason.
"The Crossover" will allow players to don a uniform from any of the league's 30 teams starting on May 21 at 8 p.m. ET.
Lace up... The Crossover is going to knock you off your feet š
For the first time ever the @NBA is joining Fortnite! Read our blog for info about the new cosmetic set, Player Lockers and more.
Per an official release from Epic Games, locker bundles that were personally selected by NBA stars Donovan Mitchell and Trae Young will be available to gamers in the Fortnite item shop.
Gamers will also have the opportunity to get a Shoot & Score pack that includes "the Hookshot Emote and Mini Hoop Back Bling, which can feature the logo of all 30 NBA teams."
The event will also include a five-day team battle competition from May 19-23 featuring all 30 NBA organizations.
In addition to those items and events, there will be an NBA welcome hub added to Fortnite Creative on May 25.
The 2021 NBA postseason will begin with first-round games on Saturday and Sunday.
Report: NBA Plans to Address 'Unnatural Shooting Motions' During Offseason
May 15, 2021
Brooklyn Nets' James Harden drives past Houston Rockets' D.J. Augustin during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 31, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The NBA will reportedly explore options in the upcoming offseason on how to deal with unusual field-goal attempts by players looking to draw fouls during games.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the league "plans to address the unnatural shooting motions of star players like James Harden and Trae Young that get foul calls under the rules in the NBAābut would get eye rolls on the playground."
Wojnarowski explained there is some concern with the relationship between players and officials at this point.
"Privately, team executives are expressing concern to the league office about the relentless strife and volume of players and coaches complaining to refs," he wrote. "Even teams are worried it's turning off fans, and the league office knows it's an issue."
Addressing the shooting motions that are solely employed to fool referees and draw unnatural contact could help make the game easier to officiate.
When a player like Harden consistently draw fouls in such a manner that surely frustrates defenders, it could also lead to a situation where he doesn't get as many calls if officials start to assume he is flopping or initiating the contact himself.
In theory, addressing such tactics and making the game more straightforward to officiate could lead to better relationships between players and refs as well as less frustration from fans who don't necessarily want to watch a parade to the free-throw line and arguments on the floor.
It could be among the issues that the league looks to address this offseason as it slowly shifts its attention away from playing through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hawks Clinch 2021 NBA Playoff Spot; Latest Eastern Conference Standings
May 13, 2021
Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) puts up a shot against the Washington Wizards during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, May 12, 2021, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
The Atlanta Hawks will be playing postseason basketball for the first time in four years after coming back from 13 points down in the fourth quarter to defeat the Washington Wizards 120-116Ā on Wednesday.
šØ THE PAC IS BACK. šØ
Playoff basketball is back. We have officially clinched a top 6 playoff spot. pic.twitter.com/IMzDFbWvvs
Below is a look at the latest Eastern Conference standings with four-plus days of regular-season basketball left. The top six finishers will earn automatic playoff berths. The next four teams in the standings will head to a play-in tournament to find out the final two East playoff seeds.
The top five Eastern Conference teams have now clinched playoff berths, with the New York Knicks the next team in line to do so with one more win or a Boston Celtics loss.
The Nos. 6 through 9 teams can do no worse than a play-in berth, and the Washington Wizards will head to the play-in competition with one win or one Chicago Bulls loss.
Atlanta made the playoffs for 10 straight years from 2008-2017, with its best season coming in 2014-15, when the team went 60-22, earned the Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed and reached the conference finals.
However, that team broke apart within a few years, and the bottom fell out in 2017-18 as Atlanta went 24-58.
The Hawks then began the rebuilding process, adding Trae Young and John Collins via the 2018 NBA draft. They selected other first-rounders in 2019 and 2020 who currently hold rotation spots, including De'Andre Hunter, Kevin Huerter and Cam Reddish. They also added Houston Rockets big man Clint Capela via trade.
Atlanta struggled over the last two years as all the pieces came together, with the team going 29-53 in 2018-19 and 20-47 in 2019-20.
The 2020-21 season opened with promise, but the Hawks struggled out of the gate and started just 14-20.
Lloyd Pierce, who took over for Mike Budenholzer when the coach left for the Milwaukee Bucks in 2018, was relieved from his duties after the poor start. He was replaced by Nate McMillan, who previously led the Seattle SuperSonics, Portland Trail Blazers and Indiana Pacers.
McMillan's 17-year head coaching career now includes 10 seasons ending in the playoffs, and he also has a winning lifetime record ofĀ 686-599.
The 56-year-old, who most recently guided the Pacers from 2016-2020,Ā clearly had a positive impact on the team, which rolled off eight straight wins to start his Atlanta tenure.
That placed the 22-20 Hawks fourth in a top-heavy Eastern Conference dominated by the Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks.
The middle of the conference pack enjoyed more successful second halves to their regular seasons, and the Hawks didn't stay scorching hot forever.
But they still kept pace for a playoff berth, going 17-11 after that initial eight-game win streak. Now they're safely in the playoffs.
Russell Westbrook Records Historic Triple-Double as Wizards Edged by Hawks
May 11, 2021
Washington Wizards' Russell Westbrook, right, is congratulated by Atlanta Hawks' Trae Young after an NBA basketball game Monday, May 10, 2021, in Atlanta. Westbrook recorded his 182nd career triple-double, passing Oscar Robertson for the most in NBA history. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
History but no buzzer-beater.
Russell Westbrook broke Oscar Robertson's record for the most triple-doubles in a career with his 182nd but was unable to hit the game-winning shot in Monday's 125-124 loss to the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena. He was still brilliant in Bradley Beal's absence (hamstring), but the Wizards fell to 32-37 and saw their two-game winning streak end.
On the other side, the Hawks appear to be hitting their stride as the playoffs approach.
Trae Young, John Collins, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Clint Capela led the way for the victors, who improved to 38-31 overall and 4-1 in their last five games.
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Russell Westbrook has officially passed Oscar Robertson for the all-time NBA triple-double record
Westbrook took the court with history in front of him, but he has done far more than just post impressive stats in vain this season.
Washington fell to an ugly 17-32 with an April 5 loss to the Toronto Raptors but entered Monday's game with a 15-4 record in their last 19 games. Westbrook tallied a triple-double in 16 of those 19 contests and, alongside Beal, has given his team breathing room in the race for the Eastern Conference play-in tournament.
He wasted no time working his way toward the record with nine assists in the first half as the visitors jumped out to an early lead. From there, it seemed like just a matter of time until he passed Robertson.
With his 2nd assist tonight, Russell Westbrook joined LeBron James, Oscar Robertson and Gary Payton as the only players in NBA history with 20,000+ points and 8,000+ assists. pic.twitter.com/XF9W6jwhEH
The head-turning passing continued throughout the game, as he set up Rui Hachimura for multiple dunks and Davis Bertans from three-point range. The amount of attention Westbrook drew also helped open up lanes for others, and six Wizards finished in double figures.
Ish Smith and Raul Neto provided a spark to help make up for the loss of Beal, while Robin Lopez found his scoring touch on the inside.
Yet all it took was one ugly third quarter, as Washington's offense went cold for extended stretches without Beal and managed just 17 points. It seemed as if the only remaining drama was whether Westbrook would get his triple-double after the Hawks pushed the lead to 17 heading into the fourth, but the record chase appeared to energize the entire team.
The Wizards came storming back with the future Hall of Famer leading the charge with his scoring and assists and even created an opportunity for him to win it at the buzzer. While it would have been a fitting end to the historic evening, his final shot drew iron and ended the comeback hopes.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā
4-Man Attack Enough for Hawks to Outlast Westbrook, Wizards
While much of the attention coming into Wednesday's game was on Westbrook's pursuit of history, the actual outcome was more important for the Hawks.
After all, the Wizards are essentially locked into the play-in tournament, while Atlanta entered play one game behind the fourth-seeded New York Knicks but two games ahead of the seventh-seeded Boston Celtics. That meant everything from home-court advantage in the first round to the play-in tournament was still at stake for the home team.
The key players came out with the expected sense of urgency.
— Hawks On FanDuel Sports Network (@FanDuelSN_Hawks) May 11, 2021
Young was largely brilliant, darting in and out of the defense, unleashing floaters and hitting a key three-pointer during the Hawks' third-quarter run even though he struggled from beyond the arc the rest of the game.
He also helped set up Collins for looks inside the paint and drew defenders in to open up Bogdanovic from deep. Throw in Capela dominating the boards and protecting the rim, and Atlanta's marquee playmakers were dialed in with postseason-like intensity.
The Hawks may have taken their foot off the gas some in the fourth quarter after seizing momentum in the third, but the four-man effort was enough to outlast Washington by a single point.
Nobody else on the team finished in double figures, but it will still be difficult to beat the Hawks when Young, Collins, Capela and Bogdanovic are all playing well.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā
What's Next?
These two teams play again Wednesday in Atlanta.
The Secrets to the Atlanta Hawks' Shocking, Rapid Turnaround
May 4, 2021
Within a span of two months, the Atlanta Hawks went from holding a losing record to potentially starting the playoffs with home-court advantage. It wasn't an easy journeyāit involved firing a coach, almost trading a rising star and real maturation of younger players who had never won before.
On Feb. 28, the Hawks were on the verge of a shake-up. The team was 14-20. John Collins disagreed with the offense and found himself on the trading block. It seemed Atlanta was on track for another losing season despite its veteran additions and All-Star point guard Trae Young.
The Hawks began the season a solid team on paper but had a more complicated dynamic below the surface. None of their young players had experienced sustained winning at the NBA level. The new veterans had to prepare them for those highs and lows.
Collins wasn't traded at the deadline despite rampant speculation. But head coach Lloyd Pierce became an unexpected casualty.
"It was a tough moment, especially with the franchise deciding to change a coach too," Danilo Gallinari said to Bleacher Report. "I think that it was basically not a brand-new group, but a lot of new players. Vets coming in trying to find chemistry with a young group of guys that they had. Of course, when you have a new group of players, there's always a process to get the chemistry going. I think that we did a good job with that. Of course, we're still working on it."
Less than two months later, the Hawks are about to secure their first winning record in four seasons and have a chance for home court in the playoffs. Their odds to make the postseason have risen above 90 percent.
"We did a good job turning the season around," Gallinari said. "Now you can see that even the young guys who were used to losing, they're getting better with that too."
After Nate McMillan became the head coach, things started falling in place. Injured players were starting to get healthy, confidence was growing and they went on an eight-game winning streak. Gallinari was finally able to play more than 20 minutes in a game as his minutes restriction eased.
One of the biggest differences has come in the fourth quarter. In the fourth quarter under Pierce, the Hawks had a league-worst minus-8.2 net rating; under McMillan, the Hawks are tied for the second-best net rating in the fourth quarter at a plus-10.7 net rating.
"Especially with a young group like this, I think confidence is key. When you start doing that kind of stuff and collecting wins and winning against tough times and proving yourself, it builds confidence," Gallinari said. "In that eight-game winning streak, we won two games with a last-second shot. If out of those eight games you don't win those, we're talking about a different record. Sometimes you have to be lucky too."
One of the most important parts of that turnaround was the improvement of Youngāa player who reportedly left "his teammates on the outside looking in" with his offensive style.
"He's improved a lot, in many things," Gallinari said. "Two things you especially want to see from a point guard is how he controls the pace of the game and when to push or slow down, and he's getting way better with that. Also, reading the gameāwhen to get guys involved, and when to be a scorer. He's of course an amazing scorer, and I think he's getting so much better with that ratio between deciding being a scorer and being a creator getting guys involved. He knows we have a lot of weapons, and you need to get those weapons going sometimes. He's getting so much better at these two things."
The communication between the Hawks' players seems to have improved tremendously, and their on-court play shows it. There's no discrepancy about team identity or reported shots taken at other players during these last two months of improved play. The comments Gallinari made about Young are congruent with how Trae feels about his own improvement.
"I'm continuing to build and learn with these guys," Young said last month, via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I think I've gotten a lot better at understanding where they want the ball and like the ball, and I'm definitely trusting my teammates a lot more and it's feeling good."
That maturation doesn't extend to just Young. All of the Hawks' young players have developed both a newfound confidence and an ability to read the game better.
"It starts with them slowing down," Nate McMillan said to Bleacher Report. "You have to slow down, and you have to be patient. Part of the growth that we're looking for from our young guys is being patient and slowing down. A lot of times they're playing so fast that nothing is really clear to them."
Perhaps the most critical thing the Hawks had to address was the Collins situation. The key to fixing his displeasure with the offense? Post-ups.
"He has improved a lot, especially in his post-up game," Gallinari said. "We were not posting him a lot at the beginning of the season, and now we are posting him way more. We trust him in the post, and he's been very good and very efficient. ā¦ When Nate came, we had plays to get me and John in the post. That was a change when Nate came."
Gallinari has a deeper relationship with Collins since the two spent time together in South Africa for the 2018 NBA Africa Game. The two play the same position, and Gallinari provides veteran guidance, which adds an extra layer to their friendship.
"One of the reasons that I came here is because I know he was going to be a great player," Gallinari said. "We talked about that a lot in preseason in every single game about his post-ups. He's got it, and he's showing everybody that he's got it. The team trusts the fact that when we get the ball to him in the post, there's a very good chance he's going to do the right thing."
While posting up Collins more seems to be one of the keys to the Hawks' success, it wasn't one of the points of emphasis for McMillan's new offense. McMillan wanted to play more to the matchups.
"I wanted to personalize the offense a little bit more to get guys touches," McMillan said. "Whether they were in the post or playing on the perimeter. As far as John playing in the post, the NBA has gone to a defense that is going to force you to play in the post some. With teams switching 1-5, giving you matchups a lot of time, sometimes you're just forced to play in the post."
Collins may have been unhappy with the Hawks' previous offense, but their new one seems to lean toward what he's wanted since the preseason. Under Pierce, Collins and Gallinari were averaging 2.6 and 2.2 post-ups per game, respectively; they're averaging 3.8 and 3.5 post-ups under McMillan. To put that into perspective, Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 3.9 post ups per game.
"I feel like a lot of people have been questioning my ability to create for myself. Obviously they know I can make open threes, make tough mid-range shots, finish, be athletic and all that great stuff. But skill always wins in my mind, and I feel like my ability to shoot has really opened up my ability to drive, make plays for other people and get downhill and attack. Just trying to read defenders, reading where the ball is coming from and attacking people's feet."
This new offense filled with matchup-hunting and post-ups wasn't tailored to him, though.
"That's not just a conversation with John. That's with the entire team," McMillan said. "That's what we're going to be faced with. We have to see those matchups and take advantage of them. When teams give us those matchups, we gotta win that. That's what NBA basketball has come to."
The Hawks are no longer the team that could have drafted Luka Doncic. They're 1.5 games back from home court in the playoffs and have stayed neck-and-neck with the Dallas Mavericks' record. No one could have imagined Young's team could keep up with Doncic's team at this stage of their respective careers with the support around them, yet here they are. The Hawks are ready to shock the world, and their younger players are learning how to do that game by game.
For those who may sleep on the Hawks, Gallinari has one message.
"We're already doing better than what haters or media or people are saying we were gonna do. But of course, we're not happy. We're still working on accomplishing something big."
Hawks' Trae Young's Ankle Injury Diagnosed as Grade 2 Sprain
Apr 22, 2021
Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) sets up a play during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic, Wednesday, March 3, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young's ankle injury suffered Wednesday in New York has been diagnosed as a Grade 2 sprain, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski:
An MRI revealed a Grade 2 lateral sprain on Atlanta All-Star guard Trae Young's left ankle, source tells ESPN. He's expected to be able to return to play once swelling and discomfort are gone. Best possible news after Wednesday night's injury at MSG.
The 2019-20 All-Star selection has been mostly durable during the early stages of his career and only missed eight of a possible 149 games over his first two seasons. He'd been sidelined a few times during the current campaign with various ailmentsĀ prior toĀ landing awkwardly on his left foot on a floater in the lane against the Knicks.
Lou Williams figures to see the biggest uptick in minutes as he runs the Hawks offense with Young unavailable. It'll also create more opportunities for reserves Brandon Goodwin and Skylar Mays as part of the backcourt rotation.
Young has emerged as one of theĀ NBA's most dynamic offensive playmakers since being selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2018 draft. He's averaging 25.3 points (15th in the league) and 9.6 assists (third) across 54 appearances during the 2020-21 season.
Atlanta has turned a corner following a three-year playoff drought, and Young's work leading the offense is a major part of that success. Having him healthy down the stretch and for a potential playoff run is key.
Trae Young Ankle Injury X-Rays Negative After Being Helped off Court
Apr 22, 2021
Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) sets up for a 3-point attempt during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic, Wednesday, March 3, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Young was helped back to the locker roomĀ late in the third quarter while putting minimal pressure on the joint amid a 20-point, 14-assist outing. The Hawks quickly ruled him out for the rest of the game.
Trae Young was in pain after an awkward landing on his ankle
Ā After Atlanta lost in overtime, 137-127, the team announced X-rays were negative and that Young would receive an MRI on Thursday.
The 22-year-old missed one game as a result of knee soreness in early April, while injuries to his calf and adductor also limited him earlier in the year. He missedĀ just eight games in his first two NBA seasons combined.
For the season, Young isĀ averaging 25.4 points and 9.5 assists per game. He's helped Atlanta get back into playoff contention after finishing near the bottom of the standings the past few years, with the 32-27 Hawks currently fifth in the East.
If Young misses timeāthe Hawks' next game is Friday versus the Miami Heatālook forĀ Lou Williams,Ā Bogdan Bogdanovic andĀ Kevin Huerter to see more time.
Giannis Drops 15 in Return from Knee Injury as Bucks Best Trae Young, Hawks
Apr 16, 2021
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 15: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on April 15, 2021 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Milwaukee Bucks earned a 120-109 road win over the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday at State Farm Arena.
Reigning back-to-back NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo returned to the court after missing six straight games with left knee soreness. He had 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting, five rebounds and three steals in 25 minutes.
Hawks point guard and leading scorer Trae Young returned after missing two games with a bruised left calf. He went scoreless in the first half before finishing the game with 15 points on 3-of-17 shooting.
Milwaukee used a 16-2 run that spanned the end of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth to help turn a slight 82-80 edge into a 98-82 lead. The Bucks never led by fewer than eight points for the remainder of the game.
The Bucks clearly won the battle of the second units on this night, with Milwaukee reserves scoring 44 points to Atlanta bench players' 16. Seven Bucks scored in double digits, led by Jrue Holiday's 23.
The Hawks remained without John Collins (left ankle sprain), De'Andre Hunter (right knee soreness) and Cam Reddish (right Achilles soreness). Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic paced all scorers with 28 points (10-of-20 overall, 6-of-12 three-point shooting).
The 35-20 Bucks have won three straight games, and the 30-26 Hawks' three-game win streak ended with the defeat.
Notable Performances
Bucks F Giannis Antetokounmpo: 15 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals
Bucks G Jrue Holiday: 23 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds
Bucks C Brook Lopez: 19 points, 12 rebounds
Hawks G Trae Young: 15 points, 9 assists
Hawks C Clint Capela: 16 points, 16 rebounds
Hawks G Bogdan Bogdanovic: 28 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds
Hawks F Kevin Huerter: 16 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists
Giannis Returns, Bucks Roll
Antetokounmpo didn't post gaudy statistics in his return as he usually does, but the Bucks still cruised en route to a fairly comfortable 11-point road win.
The two-time NBA MVP didn't look particularly rusty, though, like when he took just two dribbles from half court to the hoop for an early layup:
Antetokounmpo didn't put the team on his back, but he didn't need to on this night with the Bucks' second unit doing so well.
He only played 25 minutes in his return and was able to rest at the end of the game with the game well in the Bucks' control.
Overall, the night couldn't have gone much better for Antetokounmpo and the Bucks as they welcomed back their superstar en route to making a run at the Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed.
Young, Hawks' Second Unit Struggle in Defeat
Young's return to the court did not go as well as Antetokounmpo's, as he missed all six of his first-half field goals and didn't score until there was 6:40 remaining in the third quarter.
It appeared that bucket, which preceded a free throw to complete a three-point play, would result in Young turning his game around. He eventually scored nine points in a 3:09 span to help pull the Hawks within 82-80 late in the third quarter.
That wasn't meant to be, though. Young's shot didn't fall, and turnovers were a consistent problem, with the ex-Oklahoma star committing six on the night.
It's not too much to be concerned about. Sure, Young struggled, but he also missed five shots within 12 feet of the hoop in the first half and eight overall. He's simply not going 0-for-whatever on most nights from that distance.
Off the bench, the Hawks' reserves could not get much going.
Hawks guard Lou Williams finished with a minus-27. Nathan Knight missed all five of his field goals, and Brandon Goodwin played 10 scoreless minutes. Rookie center Onyeka Okongwu scored eight points in nine minutes, but he also had three fouls. The Bucks outscored the Hawks by at least 10 points with each of those players on the floor.
On the other end, the Bucks reserves were menaces all night, with Pat Connaughton notably finishing at plus-21 and Jeff Teague ending at plus-18. Those two plus Bobby Portis and P.J. Tucker, who made up the four primary Bucks reserves, combined for 44 points, 20 rebounds and eight assists.
It wasn't a good night for the Hawks, but they can take solace in the fact that they're still 16-6 under head coach Nate MacMillan and a likely shoo-in for the Eastern Conference playoffs thanks to their efforts over the past few months following a 14-20 start.
What's Next?
Milwaukee will host the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday in Fiserv Forum at 9 p.m. ET. Atlanta will welcome the Indiana Pacers into town on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Windhorst on Trae Young's Potential: 'I Do Think There's Some Concern out There'
Apr 6, 2021
Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) dribbles towards the basket against the Sacramento Kings during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, March 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Hector Amezcua)
Trae Young has put up impressive numbers to begin his NBA career, but there are still doubts about his upside in the league.
"He's a spectacular player, who is an excellent, excellent shooter at times, but he has games where he's off and doesn't contribute," Windhorst said (39:00). "Then he's a liability on defense, which gets the Hawks eaten alive all the time."
The discussion came after three ESPN writers (Bobby Marks, Kevin Pelton and Mike Schmitz) ranked the Atlanta Hawks star as the No. 16 player in the league under 25 years old.
"I do think there's some concern out there about what kind of a difference-making player he can be," Windhorst added (43:33).
Young quickly lived up to expectations as the No. 5 pick of the 2018 NBA draft, earning an All-Star selection in his second season after being a finalist for the Rookie of the Year award behind Luke Doncic in Year 1.
The point guard finished the 2019-20 season ranked fourth in the NBA with 29.6 points per game and second in the league with 9.3 assists per game.
His continues to impress in 2020-21 (25.2 PPG, 9.4 APG), and the Hawks are in playoff contention for the first time in his career.
Despite the success, there are still doubts about his impact based on the inconsistency and defensive issues. Young has a plus-5.2 offensive box plus/minus this season but he's minus-1.7 on the defensive end, per Basketball Reference.
Windhorst said the Hawks will still likely offer Young a max contract extension this offseason as the squad continues to build around the 22-year-old. The question is whether he is good enough to lead a team to a championship.
Trae Young Out for Hawks vs. Pelicans Because of Knee Injury
Apr 2, 2021
Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) is shown against the Dallas Mavericks in the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
The Hawks announced that Young has been ruled out for Friday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans with soreness in his left knee.Ā
Young played 35 minutes in Thursday's double-overtime win against the San Antonio Spurs. He finished the game with 28 points and 12 assists.Ā
Injuries haven't been a big problem for Young throughout his NBA career. The third-year guard missed eight games in his first two seasons.Ā
So far this season, Young has appeared inĀ 46 of Atlanta's first 48 games. The 22-year-old missed the Hawks' 112-91 loss to the Utah Jazz on Feb. 4 with a calf injury.Ā
Young has been the driving force behind the Hawks offense since his rookie season in 2018-19. He is averagingĀ 25.5 points and 9.6 assists per game, in addition to shooting a career-high 36.3 percent from three-point range.Ā
The Hawks have dealt with their share of injuries, notably to key free-agent additions Danilo Gallinari and Bogdan Bogdanovic. That duo has only playedĀ 59 gamesĀ combined.Ā
Atlanta has played better of late with 10 wins in 14 games since Nate McMillan was named interim head coach on March 1 after Lloyd Pierce was fired.Ā
Until Young is able to return, the Hawks will turn to Lou Williams as the starter at point guard.Ā
