Atlanta Hawks: Trae Young is something like an elephant

The Atlanta Hawks will take the floor for their first preseason action on Monday. As they prepare for the next phase, we’ve heard constantly how their run to the Eastern Conference Finals was nice but also in the past. Almost to a man, they have acknowledged they have to go out and prove the latter part of the 2021 season for the Hawks wasn’t a fluke.

Bogdan Bogdanovic said the Hawks still feel like underdogs. Kevin Huerter essentially echoed those sentiments.

And then there’s Trae Young. The Hawks superstar point guard has been very vocal about feeling as though they weren’t getting enough attention from the national media. This highlights another theme, one about Young himself, that is recurring as well.

The Atlanta Hawks will never rest on their laurels because Trae Young never forgets

There’s a saying that is emblazoned on Young’s still-new home gym. It reads, “Always remember when they doubted you”. The exact same message is on the lid of the box his very first signature shoe, the Trae Young 1 which officially dropped on Friday, comes in. Clearly, this isn’t just some marketing scheme.

Back in 2019, he did a video for Slam NBA where he spoke on wanting his doubters to “keep that same energy”.

Just a month ago he graced the cover of Kicks, a Slam magazine in anticipation of his shoe release. The caption on Twitter read, “Trae Young remembers everything you said. You’re about to hear his response.”

Huerter spoke of Young’s long memory when it comes to slight this offseason. Put simply, he doesn’t forget.

That’s why Young, at 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds, is like a creature that can grow up to 13 feet and weigh up to seven tons. Elephants have been found to remember, not only the locations of food and water but also friends and enemies. Not that Young has enemies, per see.

But he did acknowledge he might be a villain in at least two NBA arenas.

Elephants remember thanks to having the largest brain among land animals. Young remembers thanks to a drive that has led him to bristle at the perceived lack of attention (or respect). Most preseason power rankings also had them below the Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat.

They had a winning record against the Heat last season. And they eliminated the 76ers, albeit in seven games, who appear to be imploding as a result.

All the while the Hawks were one of the most injured teams in the league.

It makes sense that it might not sit well with more than just Young on the team they aren’t being discussed more outside of constant trade rumors around Cam Reddish.

We don’t know how much we’ll see of Young this preseason. Many of his teammates are dealing with injuries and there could be some preservation of those who are healthy with eyes on the regular season.

When the time comes though, all of the doubt and speculation won’t matter. The Hawks, who expect to be fully healthy for the opener on Oct 21, will look to once again prove themselves to those who continue to doubt them. Led by Young, they haven’t forgotten. We can’t wait to see the response.