Atlanta Hawks superstar Trae Young is one of the best young players in the league. The 22-year-old has been the key to the Hawks’ success this season, as the team tries to make it to the playoffs for the first time in four years.
The Hawks had a crucial victory against the Chicago Bulls in their last game, beating them 120-109. While Bulls’ Zach LaVine dominated the headlines with a 50-point performance, the Hawks were led by a dominant performance by Trae Young.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
The 1-time All-Star put on an absolute show as he scored 42 points along with 8 assists and 9 rebounds. This was their 16th game of his career where he has scored more than 40 points and has had more than 5 assists in a game.
Given that this is only his third year in the league, this stat-line seems mind-boggling. He has even topped fellow young superstars Luka Doncic and Jayson Tatum for this feat and only trails LeBron James, who had 17 such games before his 23rd birthday.
Trae Young last night:
✅ 42 PTS
✅ 8 REB
✅ 9 ASTIt was the 16th time Young has recorded at least 40 points and five assists in a game. The only player in NBA history with more such games before his 23rd birthday is LeBron James (17). pic.twitter.com/lD1qJVcTQ9
— Justin Kubatko (@jkubatko) April 10, 2021
Given how key his offensive output is for the Hawks and the impeccable form he has been in, it is only a matter of time before the 22-year-old eclipses ‘King James’ for this staggering record.
Can Trae Young lead this Hawks team to a deep playoff success?
After struggling for the last two seasons, the Hawks have finally added some quality veterans around their young prodigy. Players like Danilo Gallinari and Bojan Bogdanovic have made an instant impact coming off of the bench, resulting in a significant decrease of the offensive load on Young.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
With a much better support cast, Young and the Hawks are well above .500. They now have a record of 28 wins and 25 losses and are the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference.
They are even above teams like the Boston Celtics and last season’s Eastern Conference champions, Miami Heat. The Hawks have a perfectly balanced roster with great young players and seasoned veterans.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
But Trae Young is absolutely key to coach Monty Williams’ chances. The 22-year-old has the ability to take the game on his head and lead the team. Come playoff time, this will be a big necessity for Atlanta.
Trae has already proven how great he can be with stellar performances in the regular season. If he can replicate the same in the playoffs, the Hawks can pull off some big surprises in the Eastern Conference playoffs.