Trae Young 'Hurt' Not Being Named to Preliminary Team USA Olympic Roster
Feb 10, 2020
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 09: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts after drawing a foul on a basket in the second half against the New York Knicks at State Farm Arena on February 09, 2020 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
USA Basketball announced 44 finalists in the running to make the 2020 Tokyo Olympics roster, and Atlanta Hawks second-year point guard Trae Young was not on the list.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't hurt by seeing it," Young said Monday, per Sarah K. Spencer of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. "Obviously I would have wanted to play on the team."
The 2018 fifth overall pick was not a poor sport about it, however, as he posted a congratulatory tweet to his peers who were named finalists:
Congrats to these 44 Players, and to the 12 that make the Roster....🇺🇸 https://t.co/rMvEDK6FV6
The finalists are headlined by two-time Olympic gold medalists LeBron James and Kevin Durant.
Young joined Durant and James as the only players in NBA history to notch at least 10 40-point games before turning 22 years old, perSportsCenter, after posting 48 points and 13 assists in the Hawks' 140-135 double-overtime win over the New York Knicks Sunday.
The 21-year-old is the league's fourth-best scorer at 29.7 points per game. James Harden (35.2), Giannis Antetokounmpo (30.0) and Damian Lillard (29.9) are the players ahead of Young. Harden and Lillard were named as Olympic roster finalists, and Antetokounmpo is Greek.
The New York Times'Marc Steinrelayed that USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo disclosed last month the final 12-player roster will be announced in June prior to the NBA playoffs' conclusion.
Steinadded: "The big takeaway: Today's roster doesn't mean LeBron and Kawhi and the stars dealing with major injuries (Curry, Durant and Klay) are definitely going to the Olympics ... but it means they have all volunteered to some degree with four-ish months to go until the roster is set."
Notable omissions alongside Young are New Orleans Pelicans rookie No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson and Memphis Grizzlies rookie second overall pick Ja Morant as well as Young's Hawks teammate John Collins.
USA Basketball was snubbed by several NBA stars such as Harden, Lillard, Anthony Davis, CJ McCollum, JJ Redick andothers for the 2019 FIBA World Cup. The team went on to finish seventh after losing to France in the quarterfinals.
The U.S. are three-time defending Olympic gold medalists.
NBA All-Star Game 2020: Team LeBron vs. Team Giannis Rosters, Players to Watch
Feb 10, 2020
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives to the basket as Golden State Warriors guard Andrew Wiggins defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/John Hefti)
The 2020 NBA All-Star Game will be a showcase of the sport's established superstars, like LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who are the two captains for the February 16 event in Chicago.
The exhibition also serves as a larger stage for the NBA's young breakout stars to showcase themselves to a broader audience.
Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young is one of the first-time All-Stars participating in the game, and he is one of three who were voted in as starters.
Young was a draft pick of Antetokounmpo's, and he will start alongside Kemba Walker, Pascal Siakam and Joel Embiid.
James will be joined by Los Angeles Lakers teammate Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, James Harden and Luka Doncic in the other starting lineup.
Since the NBA went away from the conference-versus-conference All-Star format, James has won back-to-back All-Star Games as a captain and took home the Most Valuable Player honor in 2018.
Two years ago, he was the only player on his team to score more than 20 points in a victory over a side captained by Stephen Curry.
And in 2019, James produced 19 points in a victorious effort over Team Giannis at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte. He averages 24.1 points in the All-Star Game, which is the fourth-best total in the exhibition's history.
Of the top 10 players on that scoring chart, the 35-year-old is the only one with more than 12 appearances.
The Lakers forward consistently turns in strong performances in the All-Star Game, and he will be in search of his fourth MVP honor at the event. He could be an even better asset to his team in Chicago because he is averaging a career high in assists per game at 10.8 to go along with his 25 points per contest.
With Davis, Harden and Doncic alongside him in the starting lineup, James could be the main facilitator on the floor, instead of forcing himself to be the top scorer.
Of course, the Lakers superstar will take his share of shots over four quarters, but with the new rules instituted for this year's All-Star Game, distributing the ball could be more important.
The score will be set at 0-0 for the first three quarters, with the winner of each period earning $100,000 for a community organization.
After the third quarter, the total score from the first three periods will be added up. Twenty-four points will be added to the top score at that point to become the target final score.
In the new format, unselfishness could be rewarded as teams can't be patient in racking up scoring totals, which is why James could thrive even more than he has in previous years.
Trae Young, PG, Atlanta Hawks
Young is averaging 29.7 points, 9.1 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game in his second season with the Atlanta Hawks.
While most NBA fans are aware of his skill set, a good amount of those observers do not get to watch him play every night.
The All-Star Game is the perfect stage for the Oklahoma product to showcase the improvements he has made in his sophomore season to a national audience.
The second-year guard is averaging over 10 more points per game than he put up in his rookie campaign, and fans took notice by voting him in as a starter.
In four of his past five games, Young eclipsed 30 points, and he has a double-digit assist total in seven of his previous nine appearances.
At the All-Star Game, the 21-year-old has a chance to take another vault toward becoming a superstar by thriving on Team Giannis.
Young is the top distributor on the squad, and he owns the second-most points per game on his roster behind Antetokounmpo.
The only concern with his play is he leads the NBA in turnovers with 235, which is 12 more than Harden and 40 more than James and Devin Booker. However, that also means he has the ball in his hands a lot, and that is expected to be the case in Chicago.
If Young shines in his first All-Star Game, he could set a foundation to be a pillar of the exhibition for years to come.
Report: Nets' Joe Harris Will Participate in 2020 NBA 3-Point Contest
Feb 3, 2020
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 16: Joe Harris #12 of the Brooklyn Nets celebrates with the trophy after winning the MTN DEW 3-Point Contest as part of the 2019 NBA All-Star Weekend at Spectrum Center on February 16, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Brooklyn Nets forward Joe Harris reportedly will defend his title in the NBA's Three-Point Contest during All-Star weekend.
Per Michael Scotto of Bleacher Report and the Associated Press, Harris accepted an invitation to take part in the Feb. 15 event.
There was some uncertainty about whether or not Harris would return to defend his crown because of his busy offseason.
Brian Lewisof the New York Post reported Saturday that Harris was waiting to determine if he wanted time off after offseason trips to China and Africa.
The NBA expanded the contest field to include 10 participants in 2019. Harris beat out Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry 26-24 in the finals last year.
Harris is currently tied for 26th in the NBA with a 40.7 three-point percentage on 6.0 attempts per game. His 13.7 points per contest is tied for his career high set last season.
Mavericks Defeat Hawks as Trae Young Leaves Game with Ankle Injury
Feb 1, 2020
DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 1: Jalen Brunson #13 of the Dallas Mavericks handles the ball during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on February 1, 2020 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. 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 2020 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
With no Luka Doncic or Kristaps Porzingis available, the Dallas Mavericks dug deep into their bench to pull off a 123-100 victory against the Atlanta Hawks to snap a two-game losing streak.
Dallas coach Rick Carlisle held Porzingis out Saturday for injury management after playing him 36 minutes in Friday's loss to the Houston Rockets. That forced the Mavs (30-19) to face their first game all season without Doncic (ankle) or Porzingis available. The timing couldn't have been better to test out Dallas' depth, as Atlanta (13-37) entered Saturday in last place in the Eastern Conference.
That's not to say guarding Atlanta wasn't a challenge.
"These guys score the s--t out of the ball," Carlisle said of the Hawks before tipoff. "They ooze points when they walk out on the floor."
Atlanta had won three of its last five games before Saturday thanks to Trae Young (29.4 points per game), who has scored at least 39 points three times in his last six contests. Young was originally selected fifth overall by the Mavs in 2018 but was sent to Atlanta in a draft-night trade for Doncic—who is expected to miss at least another four games with an ankle injury.
Trae Young said he and Luka will be compared until retirement, but he doesn’t pay much attention: pic.twitter.com/ZCfBmlSGOR
Doncic would go on to win Rookie of the Year in 2019. Both were recently named All-Stars for 2020.
Congratulations coach! With tonight's win, Rick Carlisle has become just the 13th coach in NBA history to win 500 games as the head coach of one team! 👏#MFFLpic.twitter.com/2VTRlJB2oH
Jalen Brunson, G, Mavericks: 27 points, eight assists, four rebounds
Dorian Finney-Smith, SF, Mavericks: 22 points, seven rebounds, four assists
John Collins, PF, Hawks: 26 points, 11 rebounds
Kevin Huerter, SG, Hawks: 20 points, three assists
Dallas' Depth Powers Offense
It only took the Mavericks six minutes and one timeout to figure out how to play without Doncic or Porzingis.
Atlanta opened up a 12-3 lead to start the game as the Mavs struggled to get shots to fall and keep the ball from sticking. By the 6:07 mark, the game was tied at 17. By the end of the first quarter, the rout was on with Dallas up 10.
The Mavericks didn't trail again all night, surging ahead by 29 at one point. That they were able to do so without two of their top players is a testament to the depth in Dallas and the coaching by Carlisle to get them to perform. On Saturday, none of that could have happened without Jalen Brunson leading the way.
The second-year guard out of Villanova poured in a season-high 27 points while the Mavericks connected on 51.3 percent of their three-pointers. The combination doomed a Hawks team that struggled to keep pace. Three different players tallied at least four threes on the night with Seth Curry's 5-of-7 shooting behind the arc pacing the team.
Being able to spread the floor helped draw away from the fact that Porzingis and Doncic were unavailable to clean up around the rim. The Mavericks bench was plus-54 on the night, and that was without Boban Marjanovic or J.J. Barea even seeing the floor.
Whether that type of shooting is sustainable for Dallas remains to be seen. As the Mavs look to navigate the next few games without their MVP candidate, they'll certainly take what they can get.
Young, Reddish Injured in Loss
For a night that offered the Hawks a chance to serve up a loss to a beat-up roster, Atlanta left Dallas with more to worry about than its opponent.
Young exited early in the third quarter with a right ankle sprain and would not be able to return to the game. He finished with just 12 points on 4-of-13 shooting to go with six rebounds and one assist in just 26 minutes. He was the second starter to leave the game with an injury for the Hawks on Saturday.
Guard Cam Reddish suffered a face contusion and was immediately placed in concussion protocol as the team announced he would not be able to return, either.
Reddish played just seven minutes without recording a bucket before the injury.
With the two young stars out of the game, the Hawks were able to give plenty of time to former Maverick Vince Carter in what was his last game at American Airlines Center. Carter finished with 10 points and five rebounds in 24 minutes.
Dallas was quick to honor its former star with a tribute video early on. It marked one of the only feel-good moments on the night for Atlanta, which heads home in need of some rest and recovery time.
The Hawks return home to face another contender with the Boston Celtics visiting Monday. It's been a rough stretch for Atlanta lately, as the team hasn't had a homestand last longer than two games since mid-January. That trend continues with two home games separated by two consecutive road games over the next eight days.
Dallas will continue to try weathering the absence of Doncic when it visits the Indiana Pacers on Monday. Already a tough opponent this season, the Mavs will have the added task of keeping Victor Oladipo in check as the guard returns to form after missing the first 47 games this season.
Trae Young Suffers Ankle Injury vs. Mavs; Hawks Reportedly Not Overly Concerned
Feb 1, 2020
Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) handles the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Friday, Jan. 10, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
According to Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes, the Hawks are not overly concerned about Young's injury and view it as a "tweak." Young is not expected to undergo an MRI or X-ray.
Young, a second-year pro out of Oklahoma, is averaging 29.4 points on 44.6 percent shooting (37.0 percent from three-point range) and 9.2 assists per game.
The 21-year-old offers an exciting glimpse into a potentially brighter future for the Hawks, who are mired near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. The rebuilding team is based on a core that features first-round draft picks in their early 20s who are engaging in a trial by fire.
Young has been sensational for the Hawks, however, proving capable of exploding for 40-plus points on any night. His handles and limitless range are his calling cards.
Expect Jeff Teague to take Young's place in the starting lineup if the latter misses more time. The Hawks landed the 31-year-old veteran, who started his career in Atlanta, from the Minnesota Timberwolves in January.
Hawks big man John Collins should expect to fill much of the massive usage gap. Collins notably scored 33 points on 12-of-22 shooting with Young out against the Los Angeles Clippers on Jan. 22.
The NBA announced Thursday the players selected as reserves for the upcoming All-Star Game, which will take place in Chicago on Feb. 16. This announcement comes one week after the starters were announced...
Trae Young Dominates with 39 and 18 to Lift Hawks Past Joel Embiid, 76ers
Jan 30, 2020
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 30: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks shoots the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers on January 30, 2020 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 2020 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Philadelphia 76ers continued their road struggles Thursday, suffering a 127-117 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
Trae Young dazzled again for the Hawks, scoring 39 points with 18 assists at State Farm Arena. A quick start from the guard put the home team up double digits in the first half, and the squad never trailed after the first quarter.
The 76ers kept things close while cutting the lead down to six in the final minute, but the Hawks came through with clutch free throws to stay in front.
It helped Atlanta (13-36) earn its fifth win in the last nine games after the Hawks took just six of the previous 38.
Philadelphia (31-18) had also played well in the past couple of weeks, but the problems away from home remain an issue. The squad is 9-16 on the road, including just two wins in the last 10 tries.
Joel Embiid totaled 21 points and 14 rebounds in his second game back from his finger injury.
Notable Stats
Trae Young, G, ATL: 39 points, 18 assists
John Collins, F, ATL: 17 points, 20 rebounds
De'Andre Hunter, F, ATL: 15 points, 4 assists
Joel Embiid, C, PHI: 21 points, 14 rebounds
Ben Simmons, G, PHI: 31 points, 5 assists, 4 steals
Shake Milton, G, PHI: 27 points, 6 assists
Trae Young Lights It Up Again
In case anyone was questioning Trae Young as an All-Star starter, his recent stretch has silenced any doubters.
The point guard entered the day with at least 13 assists in four straight games, scoring over 40 in two of those contests. Even against an elite defensive team, he didn't slow down at all Thursday.
Young was on fire from the start of the game, filling up the stat sheet with 14 points and 10 assists in thefirst quarteralone.
He accounted for 36 of the Hawks' 39 first-quarter points, perFox Sports Southeast.
The high level of play continued with 15 points in the second quarter, and he added 10 more in the second half.
He became the second player in NBA history to average 30 points and 15 assists over a five-game span, joining Tiny Archibald in 1972, per ESPN Stats and Info.
No one could stop him from getting into the lane and either getting fouled or finishing in the paint. When extra attention was placed on him, the guard found his teammates for easy shots.
Philadelphia entered the day allowing 104.8 points per game, second-fewest in the NBA, but gave up 74 in the first half and 127in the game.
While the remaining Hawks have been inconsistent on both ends this year, they helped out in this one.
John Collins got his 11th double-double of the year, while De'Andre Hunter, Kevin Huerter and Vince Carter knocked down their threes. The team ended up with seven players in double figures to provide plenty of help around Young.
It was enough to pull the upset, proving this team can be competitive for the rest of the year.
76ers Showcase Depth Down 2 Starters
Josh Richardson has been out with a hamstring injury while Al Horford was also inactive due to knee trouble, leaving the 76ers short-handed on the road.
The stars stepped up, with Ben Simmons totaling 31 points and five assists after a hot start. Tobias Harris and Joel Embiid came on late to help the team with a combined 42 points and 23 rebounds.
However, the big story was the play of Shake Milton.
The 2018 second-round pick set a career high in points by halftime and continued to pile it on offensively, finishing with 27 points on 7-of-12 shooting. He was 5-of-9 from three-point range as the team's lone threat from the perimeter.
In just his third career start, Milton justified the coaching staff's faith in him while providing the Sixers with another option offensively. Though this could be a fluke, he's certainly earned more playing time going forward.
Mike Scott also played well off the bench, reaching double figures for the first time in the last 23 games.
It wasn't enough for the team to escape with a win, but these players will be key for Philadelphia to reach expectations this season.
What's Next?
Philadelphia will continue its four-game road trip Saturday with a matchup against the Boston Celtics. Atlanta will also go on the road Saturday to take on the Dallas Mavericks.
Erik Spoelstra: 'It's a Joke' Jimmy Butler Won't Start 2020 NBA All-Star Game
Jan 24, 2020
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) shoots during an NBA basketball game between the Miami Heat and the Oklahoma City Thunder Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said Friday "it's a joke" Heat forward Jimmy Butler wasn't selected as a starter for the 2020 NBA All-Star Game, and he believes the snub should help spur a change to positionless lineups.
"These are such antiquated labels," Spoelstra told reporters.
Here's a look at the Eastern Conference choices, which were based on a format with two guards and three frontcourt players:
Butler is averaging 20.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.8 steals in 38 appearances.
Spoelstra's defense of his player was no surprise, and his point about a positionless starting group makes sense. With the NBA trending more toward small-ball lineups with the decreased use of traditional post players, rewarding the top players regardless of position may be the way to go.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4oxdD7EwKw
Butler should be among the reserves announced Thursday ahead of the draft led by captains Antetokounmpo and LeBron James, which is set for Feb. 6.
The 2020 All-Star Game will take place Feb. 16 at the United Center in Chicago.
NBA All-Star Game 2020: Least Deserving Starters, Top Snubs After Lineups Reveal
Jan 24, 2020
MIAMI, FLORIDA - JANUARY 22: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat looks on against the Washington Wizards during the second half at American Airlines Arena on January 22, 2020 in Miami, Florida. 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 Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo will be an All-Star Game captain for the second consecutive year. The reigning MVP has led the Bucks to the league's best record while averaging 30.0 points, 12.9 rebounds and 5.6 assists and leading the league in player efficiency rating.
The other representatives in the Eastern Conference: Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, Boston Celtics guard Kemba Walker and Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young, who overcame the "worst record in the NBA" argument.
In the Western Conference, LeBron James was named a captain for the third straight year—every season since the new format was implemented.
The King is joined by Los Angeles Lakers teammate Anthony Davis and crosstown rival Kawhi Leonard in the frontcourt, while Dallas Mavericks sophomore sensation Luka Doncic and Houston Rockets guard James Harden make up the backcourt.
Of course, a host of great players missed out on a starting opportunity, while others might be luckier in that regard. So, let's debate.
Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam is playing some great basketball, but does he deserve to be a starter?
Least Deserving Starters
Pascal Siakam
Siakam has been spectacular as he continues to ascend to the level of the elite.
The 25-year-old is averaging 23.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, giving Toronto much-needed production in the wake of Leonard's departure this past summer. However, Siakam has missed 11 games, and his increase in scoring is based more on added volume than anything.
He is shooting below 50 percent on two-pointers, over 10 percent worse than his mark from last season. Even if some of that is the result of added defensive attention, Siakam has not been quite as efficient.
When factoring in the injuries, it's hard to say Siakam is worthy of a starting nod, especially given the outstanding two-way play of a certain star in South Beach. More on that later.
Trae Young
This is not another argument about whether someone who plays for the worst team in the league deserves to be a starter. Nor is it an indictment on Young, who can hoist threes from anywhere and dazzle fans with his handles and court vision.
He is averaging 29.2 points, 8.6 assists and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 37.3 percent from three on a whopping 9.3 attempts per game. He is one of the most impactful offensive players on the floor at all times.
However, it's impossible to ignore his defensive deficiencies. He ranks toward the bottom among qualified guards in both defensive rating and defensive win shares, per NBA.com. Most of these players have two-way value, but Young is often disengaged on that end of the floor.
Does he belong in the All-Star Game? Absolutely. But is he deserving of a starting spot? Debatable.
Jokic was never going to earn a starting nod over the superstars in L.A., though he has a strong case of his own.
Top Snubs
Jimmy Butler
It feels egregious not to include Butler among the starters.
Start with the obvious: He has helped turn the Miami Heat into contenders in the Eastern Conference. He also ranks eighth in win shares.
Then there are the numbers. Yes, Butler is shooting just over 26 percent from beyond the arc. However, he is averaging 20.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game. He impacts the game in all areas, and his PER is 23.8, compared to 18.5 for Siakam.
In Butler's case, team success should count for something. The Heat are on pace for nearly 58 wins, and they are already on the verge of passing last year's win total (39).
Kyle Lowry
Like Siakam, Lowry has also missed 11 games. However, he is averaging 37.1 minutes through his first 33 appearances, tying Harden for the highest per-game mark.
The 14-year veteran has been vital to Toronto's success this year, averaging 20.0 points, 7.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds.
Aside from team success, the biggest separator between Lowry and Young comes, as you might expect, at the defensive end. Lowry ranks fourth among qualified guards in defensive win shares, per NBA.com.
The argument can be made that Lowry benefits from playing alongside another stout defender in Fred VanVleet—and Young will surely be more fun to watch in an All-Star Game setting—but there is no denying the numbers or Lowry's impact in Toronto.
Nikola Jokic
It might seem difficult to argue that anyone deserves to start over LeBron, AD or Kawhi in the frontcourt, but not for Jokic. After all, he ranks ahead of Leonard in win shares (5.9 to 4.6) and value over replacement player (3.3 to 2.4).
Joker is an anomaly, a 7-footer routinely capable of posting triple-doubles and handling the ball. He is averaging 19.4 points, 10.0 rebounds and 6.4 assists and has played every game.
The 24-year-old Serb deserved more starting consideration.
Hawks' Trae Young Ruled out vs. Clippers with Thigh Injury
Jan 22, 2020
Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) drives to the basket past Washington Wizards guard Gary Payton II (20) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 10, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
The Hawks will start veteran point guard Jeff Teague in Young's place alongside Kevin Huerter, De'Andre Hunter, John Collins and Bruno Fernando, Chouinard added.
In his second NBA season, Young has emerged as one of the most dynamic offensive players in basketball. He's averaging 29.2 points, 8.6 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 35.1 minutes across 40 starts and is well on his way to making his first All-Star Game.
"He's an All-Star," Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce told reporters. "And I'll tell you firsthand, as a coach who votes, it's hard to vote for teams with our record, it really is. It's hard to vote against a guy with his numbers. And I don't want to knock the East, but I can't imagine there's any other players (that are) playing better basketball than Trae Young.
"We would love to be in a position where our record helps him, more than anything, because Trae being at the All-Star event helps our organization, helps our team. We're excited, we're proud, we want him to be there."
Young's brilliance has not translated to wins for the Hawks, who are 10-34 coming into Wednesday. Injuries have been a problem after being mostly healthy for the first half of the season, as Young missed one game due to a hamstring injury in January.
Brandon Goodwin will see an uptick in playing time with Young out.
