After a horrid start to the season, Trae Young has experienced positive regression.
Though the Hawks have underwhelmed to this point, their star point guard hasn’t. Ice Trae is averaging 26.8 points on 48.9 eFG% and 10.5 assists to just 3.9 turnovers per contest. Even more impressive, Young’s 35% clip from beyond the arc is coming on 8.5 three-point attempts per game.
Moreover, his impact on the defensive end has been apparent. Not only is he averaging a career-high 1.5 steals per game, but he’s also proving disruptive in areas that don’t show up in the box score.
What’s most impressive is his improvement under Quin Snyder. In 22 regular season games last year, Trae Young averaged 24.5 points and 10.0 assists per game while committing 4.3 turnovers per game.
All of this to say that he’s right back to playing like the superstar Atlanta knows him to be. So much so that ESPN’s Kevin Pelton included Ice Trae in his ‘too-early 2023-24 NBA All-Star team’ as a wild card.
As expected, Young’s poor shooting through the season’s first three weeks was fluky. After hitting 36% from the field (28% from 3) over his first 11 games, Young is shooting 47% and 41% from 3 since, producing a better overall effective field-goal percentage (eFG%, which values 3s as 1.5 field goals) than last season. Young’s 10.6 APG are a career high, while his 3.8 turnovers per game tie his lowest mark.
There’s some who believe the Hawks can’t build a championship contender around Young because of his small stature, but I’m not one of them. He’s one of the most dynamic offensive players in the Association, able to score at all three levels, including at the midrange with his elite floater. Young is also among the best facilitators in the sport.
Regardless of his defensive shortcomings, which have become less of an issue under Quin Snyder, Young’s offensive acumen is enough to build a winner around. Hopefully, he’s recognized as an All-Star.
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Photographer: Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire
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