Hawks: Trae Young named All-Star starter for second time in career

Trae Young has been selected as an All-Star starter, joining DeMar DeRozen as the Eastern Conference guards. Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, and Giannis Antetokounmpo round out the rest of the starters from the Eastern Conference.

2022 East All-Star starters:
DeMar DeRozan
Trae Young
Kevin Durant
Joel Embiid
Giannis Antetokounmpo

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 28, 2022

Trae Young is one of the greatest players on the planet and is still ascending as he makes his second All-Star appearance.

He is averaging 27.7 points and 9.3 assists per game on career-best efficiency — 45.3% from the field and 38% from beyond the arc. He’s leading the NBA in total points and is the only player in the Association in the top five in points and assists. He just was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week, his second time winning the award this season.

Young led the Hawks to a much-needed, perfect 4-0 record during that stretch. He dropped 30 points and 11 assists on the Bucks, then turned around and put 37 points and 14 assists on the Timberwolves’ heads. The Hawks beat the first-place Heat in that period as well, and Young tied his career-high for 3’s made in a game against the Hornets.

Young went on a 16-game stretch of 25+ points while tallying double-digit assists 11 times over that same stretch, including 14 assists and a career-high 56 points against the Blazers. What’s even more incredible is his 56 points came on a smooth 27 shots while only turning the ball over four times.

Young deservedly is named an All-Star starter, and I’m excited to see the best true point guard in basketball chase greatness.