Trae Young might be the most disrespected athlete in the NBA, and every year, it gets a little more mind-boggling.
The All-Star reserves were announced yesterday, with the Hawks point guard being one of the more notable snubs. Despite leading the league in assists by a comfortable margin and averaging nearly 23 points per game, Young will not be representing the Eastern Conference.
It’s just the 4th time in NBA history a player has averaged at least 20 points and 10 assists per game without being named an All-Star. The last time it happened? Trae Young in 2023.
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- Trae Young (2025)
- Trae Young (2023)
- Russell Westbrook (2021)
- Michael Adams (1991)
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Trae Young is never going to be the league’s best player. He’s a defensive liability, even if he has improved in that area, and he will never be among the most efficient shooters.
However, he does belong in the conversation with the top point guards in the league. He is unequivocally the best passer of the basketball in The Association. There’s not even a close second, and he’s also fully capable of filling up the basket for 40 points on any given night.
There is not a better player in the league right now when it comes to the combination of scoring and playmaking. But what really makes this disappointing is Trae Young finally did what all of his critics asked of him. He showed more effort on the defensive end, took a step back as a scorer and made his elite playmaking the engine that drove the Hawks offense. All of which led to Atlanta to being one of the surprises in the Eastern Conference before the injuries started taking their toll.
Since his sophomore season (six seasons), Trae Young is averaging 26.6 points and 10.0 assists per game. No other point guard is doing that, and he’s only made three All-Star Games. For a player who’s done nothing but perform at a high level on the biggest stages, it’s criminal that he is not held in a higher regard.
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Photo: Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire
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