The Delta Center began quirking when Collin Sexton hit a triple to tie the game against the Hawks with 3 seconds remaining. The Utah Jazz had battled from a 16-point deficit. With no timeouts for Atlanta, the crowd anticipated overtime, but then it grew cold. The ball came to Trae Young who got enough to dribble to mid-court before heaving a shot. Even for a distance shooter with a vast range, this was astonishing.

Yet somehow, the Hawks’ star point guard managed to sink the shot. The crowd’s elation quickly turned to despair as ‘Ice Trae’ struck Utah tonight.

The crafty point guard wasn’t close to his purest scoring performance. Young had only made 2 of his 9 three-pointers prior to the miraculous game-winner. Yet, with the game on the line, his confidence was unbreakable.

As the leading assist provider this season, the Hawks talisman also accumulated 20 assists, his third game of the season reaching that mark.

But frankly, not many could focus on his playmaking exhibition in the face of a 50-foot game-winner. It drove the NBA community mental as they took to X to react to the enthralling moment.

Trae Young causes havoc in the NBA community

There’s just something about Young and opposition arenas that always seems to deliver a highlight moment. Tonight, it started with the three-time All-Star began by helping his teammates. But with 3 seconds on the clock, the Delta Center had all their eyes on Trae Young. And as he hit the shot, the NBA community was awestruck.

“Trae Young scored the type of shot you dream of when you are a kid…” one fan said, summing up the moment. Yet for the 26-year-old, this is becoming the norm. The Atlanta star has hit several game-winners in such moments. Still, this will surely rank as one of his best, given the distance of the same. 

However, the game-winner was just a fraction of his performance. Trae Young delivered another masterclass tonight, controlling the flow of the game. It surely got Kendrick Perkins excited. “Trae MF Young with another 20-20 game!!! Most disrespected player in the League” the Celtics legend said about Young.

It was the third time just this season that Young has posted 20 points and 20 points this season. It ranks as the second most such games in NBA history and not even half a season is over. Given the precision with which the Hawks cornerstone makes plays, beating Isiah Thomas’ tally of five such games doesn’t seem entirely out of reach for him.

It was a thrilling finish to what was a brilliant game of basketball. But in the midst of fans gasping over Trae Young’s heroics, some fans couldn’t help but sympathize with the Utah Jazz. “That’s a blow for the Jazz. Just when you thought you did enough for OT”. And the home side has to show significant resistance.

Even after going down by 16, the Jazz never stopped believing. Lauri Markkanen scored 35 while Sexton and Walker Kessler both scored over 20. As a team sitting in the bottom standings of the league, a win here would massively boost their confidence. If only Trae Young didn’t exist, the Jazz could have possibly relished a 10th win of the season.

But tonight it wasn’t meant to be. The stars were aligned for Trae Young, who had another show-stopping performance on the road. The shot reminded fans of a famous Stephen Curry moment that came against OKC. “Bro did his own Steph OKC recreation” one comment pointed out.

Often compared to the two-time MVP, Young is carving his own path as a player with a unique array of skills. Depending on the need of the hour, the 26-year-old can switch between scoring or setting up his teammates, a trait very few possess in the NBA today. And when one boasts them, moments such as tonight often follow.

What are your thoughts on Trae Young as a player? Let us know your views in the comments below.