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Trae Young’s ‘Player of the Week’ performance has keyed Atlanta Hawks streak

ByJoshua Buckhalter|
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 23: Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks gives a post game interview after defeating the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on January 23, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 23: Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks gives a post game interview after defeating the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on January 23, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)

The Atlanta Hawks are surging, and not a moment too soon either. Their 113-91 win over the Charlotte Hornets pushed their winning streak to four games and snapped a mini-skid on the road. More importantly, it allowed them to hold their ground, even if they haven’t been able to make any headway in the Eastern Conference just yet.

Along the way, they’ve taken down some of the hottest teams in the NBA including the reigning champs and the rival Miami Heat.

Trae Young‘s performance was the story within the story with improved focus on both ends. That is until it became the story as he was named the Eastern Conference Conference Player of the Week for the second time this season.

The Atlanta Hawks are getting All-NBA level play from Trae Young

For the week, Young averaged 31.3 points, 9.0 assists, and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 46.4 percent from the floor and 47.6 percent from beyond the arc. He’s scored 30-plus in three of the Hawks four wins and began the streak with a pair of double-doubles giving him 21 for the season, fourth among all guards and second in the East behind James Harden.

Young scored 15 points in the fourth quarter of the victory over the Bucks, 23 points in the third quarter against the Timberwolves, and went to the free-throw line 11-plus times in each of the first three contests on the winning streak.

Against the Hornets he had 11 points in the first quarter, nine points in the third, and tied a career-high knocking down eight of his15 triples.

It was just announced last week that his jersey had risen to eighth on the year-to-date sales.

That marked the highest ranking of his young and still burgeoning career. We told you at the time he was having a historic, 1-of-1 kind of season. That is still the case as he is the only player in NBA history to average at least 28 points, 9.3 assists, and 4.0 boards while shooting 45.5 percent overall and 38.0 percent from outside.

Young is shooting 50.0 percent from three and is second behind only Giannis Antetokounmpo in free-throw attempts in the fourth quarter, though, the former is head-and-shoulders above the two-time MVP in efficiency there.

His first selection came on the heels of averaging 31.3 points, 8.5 assists, and 4.0 boards while shooting 56.3 percent overall and 51.7 percent from distance at the end of November.

The Hawks were 3-1 during that stretch.

Young joining Devin Booker, Stephen Curry, DeMar DeRozan, Ja Morant as players to be selected twice this season. The reigning MVP, Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, was the selection from the West,

As Young continues his torrid pace, the Hawks are reaping the benefits. Now, he is as well. If he continues at a similar pace, we could soon be talking about All-NBA honors for the superstar.

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