Trae Young

Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young expressed optimism after exiting Monday's preseason game against the Miami Heat with a right quad contusion.

"I'll be good," Young told Sarah K. Spencer of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution after Atlanta's 125-99 loss. "Trust me."

Hawks coach Nate McMillan did not have an update on Young's status, saying he was only told the guard wasn't able to return to the game. He did, however, add that he "wasn't going to bring him back even if he could."

Young had 14 points (5-of-15 from the field) and three assists in 18 minutes of action prior to exiting.

Injuries haven't been an issue for Young throughout his career, though he was hurt down the stretch last season.

Young missed Games 4 and 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals with a bone bruise in his right foot. The Hawks were able to win Game 4, but the Milwaukee Bucks took a 3-2 series lead with a 123-112 win in Game 5.

The All-Star returned to the lineup for Game 6 with the Hawks needing a win to keep their season alive, but he was unable to prevent the Bucks from winning the series.

Young's first postseason was a triumph for him and the organization. The 23-year-old was averaging 29.8 points and 9.5 assists in 15 games before injuring his foot. He scored 14 points and dished out nine assists in Game 6 against the Bucks.

McMillan indicated that he was willing to take the cautious approach with Young, given it's only the preseason. It's unclear if Young will be able to play in Wednesday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Atlanta has three preseason contests remaining, closing out the exhibition slate on Oct. 14 against Miami.

Atlanta Hawks superstar guard Trae Young reflected Thursday on his recent appearance at Madison Square Garden in New York City for WWE SmackDown.

Young, who played a big role in the Hawks eliminating the New York Knicks in the first round of the NBA playoffs last season, received a ton of boos when he emerged from the curtain on SmackDown.

Regarding the special appearance, Young told GQ's Tres Dean:

They wanted me to come out, show some 'love' to the crowd, and just have some fun. It was such a cool idea. I was a fan when I was a kid and my little brother watched it a bit, so he told me I had to do it when they called. The fans weren't too happy to see me but it was a cool experience.

Young was on the Sept. 10 edition of SmackDown as a special guest of Sami Zayn. As a villainous character, Zayn introduced Young to the MSG crowd, eliciting a hugely negative reaction.

Young was in the corner of the heel team comprised of Zayn, Apollo Crews, Otis, Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode in a 10-man tag team match against Big E, King Nakamura, Rick Boogs, Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio.

At one point, Young roughed up Rey while he was hung up on the ropes, leading to the referee ejecting him. That resulted in a massive ovation from the live crowd.

The babyface team of Big E, Nakamura, Boogs and The Mysterios then went on to win the match.

Young's appearance came across so well after he established himself as a villain to the MSG crowd during the playoffs, much like Indiana Pacers star Reggie Miller did years earlier.

The 23-year-old Young averaged 29.2 points and 9.8 assists per contest in the five-game series win over the Knicks. He played up his role as the "bad guy" by gesturing toward Knicks fans at MSG, and he even got spit on by one of the fans during a game.

With Young leading the way, the fifth-seeded Hawks made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals before falling to the eventual NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks.

Young is poised to continue cementing himself as one of the top NBA players next season and beyond, and he may have a future in pro wrestling as well.

Adidas announced Friday the Trae Young 1, the first signature shoe for the Atlanta Hawks star, will be released Oct. 1 in two colorways, with a further three to be made available later.

Young collaborated with the company to create a shoe "designed to support his multi-directional playing style" with its boost cushioning and "lightstrike" midsole concepts.

"Adidas and I worked very closely on my first signature shoe and I'm hyped to finally let fans get a hold of them. When you wear these, you're repping that ice cold mentality and the entire city of Atlanta," Young said in a press release. "This moment is really special as it's a reminder to the next generation of hoopers that through hard work and focus you can achieve your dreams. Trae Young 1 is a symbol of that for me."

Here are the shoe's five colorways:

• ICEE (available Oct. 1)

• ICEE Cotton Candy (Oct. 1)

• SO SO DEF (Nov. 5)

• SO SO DEF ATL (Nov. 5)

• Peachtree (Nov. 19)

"Trae embodies the mentality of limitless potential—unafraid to let anything get in the way of his ambition, he pushes boundaries, proves critics wrong and creates new space for himself and the game," Adidas Basketball General Manager Eric Wise said.

The initial Oct. 1 drop will also include an apparel line that includes a zip pull-over, pants and shorts.

Young has emerged as one of the NBA's most dynamic offensive players since being selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2018 draft. He ranked fourth in the league by averaging 29.6 points during the 2019-20 season.

The 23-year-old Texas native gained more national attention during the 2021 playoffs by leading the Hawks past the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers to earn a berth in the Eastern Conference Finals, where they fell short against the eventual NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks.

Young and his Atlanta teammates tip off the 2021-22 campaign Oct. 21, when they host the Dallas Mavericks in pursuit of the franchise's first title since 1958.

Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young seemingly had the best view of one of the most impressive interceptions you will ever see.

The NBA All-Star filmed Oklahoma cornerback D.J. Graham making a leaping grab against Nebraska's Adrian Martinez during Saturday's game:

The clip he posted to social media was even better than a television angle of the incredibly athletic play:

Young was on the sideline to watch his alma mater take on its former Big 12 rival. Oklahoma pulled out a 23-16 victory, and Graham's interception represented the only turnover in the game.

It seems Young could have a future as a videographer if his basketball career doesn't work out.

Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young made a surprise appearance at WWE Super SmackDown in New York's Madison Square Garden on Friday.

Sami Zayn, who was sporting a New York Knicks jersey, announced that Young would be in his corner during a 10-man tag team match.

That didn't go over well with the MSG faithful, who assuredly remembered Young and the Hawks beating the Knicks in five games during the first round of the 2021 Eastern Conference playoffs.

Young dominated that series, averaging 29.2 points per game and dropping the game-winner in Game 1 to silence the MSG crowd. He shushed the crowd afterward, perhaps cementing himself as the next great MSG villain:

On Friday, Young played the heel as he appeared ringside to help his new friend, but he wasn't there long after pulling Rey Mysterio's neck on the middle rope to help Zayn's team.

The referee caught Young and escorted him from ringside.

Eventually, the five-man team of Big E, Rey and Dominik Mysterio, Rick Boogs and Shinsuke Nakamura beat Zayn, Dolph Ziggler, Robert Roode, Apollo Crews and Otis Dozovic. Big E earned the pin after hitting the Big Ending on Zayn.

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

With player ratings out and some of the game's biggest upgrades now understood, it's time for players to start thinking about strategy in NBA 2K22.

The latest effort from developer Visual Concepts offers big gameplay upgrades as it releases on next-generation consoles for only the second time. Ditto for feature upgrades across the board in modes such as MyGM, MyLeague, MyTeam and even the WNBA-centric The W thanks to a new Seasons feature that reworks goals and rewards.

So online or off, competitive or casual, which young NBA stars are the best players to build teams around in this year's game? First up, naturally, is the game's cover star.

Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

No great shocker that the cover star appears on such a list, right?

Luka Doncic earned cover honors by blitzing his way into the NBA via the third pick in 2018, averaging better than 21 points per game in all three of his seasons to date and earning Rookie of the Year honors and a pair of First-Team All-Pro nods.

Over 66 games last season, he averaged 27.7 points while shooting 47.9 percent from the floor. He's still only 22 and has a 94 overall rating at game's launch, just two points behind the four players good enough to earn the game's highest rating.

A force on the real court, Doncic's digital representation should be the first that comes to mind when grabbing young guys to build around in any game mode.

Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans 

For those who want to build a potential dynasty from the inside out around a budding star, look no further than Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans.

The first pick in 2019 only made it into 24 games as a rookie before erupting along expected lines as a sophomore. Over 61 games last year, he averaged 27.0 points and 7.2 rebounds while shooting 61.1 percent from the floor.

To say it feels like Zion is just getting started is a big understatement. The folks behind the 2K ratings seem to agree, as he's the first player on the list just under a 90 at an 89 overall. And for those players who want to run at a championship in style, Zion has the game's highest dunk rating at a 97.

While Zion doesn't align with recent common online metas that spam shots from deep, he's a fun, refreshing foundational piece for a contender on the digital courts.

Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks

Want to center a team around a point with deadly range and the ability to get those around him involved at an elite level? There are a few sound options, but Trae Young's speed and abilities might make him the best bet on the digital courts.

The fifth pick in the 2018 draft has blossomed into one of the game's top outright weapons, as evidenced by the 89 overall rating he shares with Williamson. As a sophomore, he averaged 29.6 points per game, and over three seasons he averages 24.1 points and 8.9 assists while shooting 43.1 percent from the floor and 34.3 percent from deep.

Whether solo or online, it's hard to complain about a guy who can do it all as opponents struggle to keep up. Young has got the feel of one of the league's next big things, if he's not there already. And his ability to get shooters open with high-percentage looks makes roster-building easier.

Plus, it doesn't hurt that the near-90 overall rating is bound to keep climbing from here.

Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young is not satisfied with his 89 overall rating on NBA 2K22, as he made clear Wednesday:

This isn't the first time Young has voiced his displeasure with the video game. The guard was rated 88 last year in NBA 2K1 and showed his disappointment on Twitter:

Young was one of the best offensive players in the NBA in 2019-20, averaging 29.6 points per game while earning his first All-Star selection. His scoring dropped slightly in 2020-21, but he still averaged 25.3 points and 9.4 assists per game while leading the Hawks to the playoffs for the first time in four years.

Atlanta made a surprising run to the Eastern Conference Finals before losing to the eventual champion Milwaukee Bucks. Young averaged 28.8 points in the Hawks' 16 playoff games.

It still wasn't enough to put him among the top-rated players in NBA 2K22, though.  LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Stephen Curry are all rated 96 overall.

Young will have to keep producing at a high level if he wants his video game character to reach this level.