Trae Young Breaks Damian Lillard’s NBA Record, Joins Another Elite List with Michael Jordan and Others

The Atlanta Hawks drafted a franchise cornerstone in Trae Young. Since his arrival in the league, he has slowly turned into an offensive juggernaut with his brilliant passing and shooting. In just his third season, he has already broken multiple records and tonight, he did it once again.

In his 159th career game against the Wizards, Young went 5-9 from three. With this, he scored the 400th three-pointer of his career, breaking the record for the fewest games needed to reach that mark. He beat Blazers star Damian Lillard, who had set the previous record for 163 games.

Right from his first season in the league, Young has been a volume shooter from three. He shot six attempts per game in his first season but struggled for efficiency. Last season, he took this number up a notch, averaging 9.5 attempts while improving his efficiency. This season, he is back to six attempts per game, and this volume shooting has helped him achieve this record.

Trae Young joins elite company in another record

Tonight, he ransacked the Wizards defense, finishing with 41 points, while shooting 10-18 from the field. It was the 14th 40 point game of his career, and only Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, and LeBron James have had more 40 point games than him in their first three seasons in the NBA.

Despite being just 22, Young is already proving he is one of the best scorers in the league. He can score from anywhere on the court and has frequently flaunted his ability to shoot from the logo.

Moreover, his great scoring is also complimented by his terrific playmaking. Last season, he finished second in the league in assists per game. This season, he is averaging 8.6 assists per game and currently ranks fourth in the league. This combined offensive skill set makes him one of the most valuable players in the league despite his lack of defense.

Young’s brilliant campaign has pushed the Hawks to the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. They haven’t made the playoffs since 2017, and they will try their best to finally put an end to this barren run this season.