ESPN's ranking disrespects Trae Young and what makes the Hawks star so great

Atlanta Hawks superstar Trae Young was not treated like a superstar in ESPN’s latest player rankings. The annual “NBA Rank” listed Young as the No. 37-ranked player in basketball ahead of the 2024-25 season.

Since he was drafted in 2018, Young has dropped more dimes than anyone else in the league. Averaging 9.5 assists for his career, Young has racked up a whopping 3,868 assists through six seasons. He has outpaced the likes of Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, and James Harden as a dime-dropper, yet he continues to receive disrespect from the national media.

A player who has averaged at least 25 points and 10 assists in back-to-back campaigns should not find himself outside of the NBA’s top 30 – let alone top 20 – on any list. The bulk of Young’s career-long criticisms have stemmed from his lackluster defense, but the 26-year-old point guard improved his play on that end last season.

Young averaged a career-high 1.3 steals last year with only 13 players averaging more. While Young cannot control his undersized stature and the defensive limitations that come with it, the Hawks have made it a priority to surround their franchise player with pieces that can make up for any of Young’s defensive deficiencies.

Trae Young’s ability to carry an offense makes him a top-20 player

While Young’s lack of substantial two-way impact somewhat caps his ceiling, the flashy floor general deserves a spot in the top 20 of any list out there. While many of his counterparts score at a more efficient clip, there are very few players who combine a dangerous scoring arsenal with otherworldly court vision the way Young does.

Young has also led his team to a conference finals run, something that several players ranked ahead of Young are yet to accomplish. For instance, ESPN ranked young talents like Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero ahead of Young. While Holmgren and Banchero are quality players, Young averaged more points, assists, and 3-pointers than both of them last season. He also shot a higher 3-point percentage than both. 

Young was ranked 29th in last year’s ESPN preseason list, meaning he dropped eight spots this time around. Given he improved his 3-point percentage, assists per game, and steals per game last season, Young surely didn’t earn a dip in the rankings with his 2023-24 campaign.

All in all, NBA media loves to fixate on Young’s weaknesses while ignoring his strengths. From elite paint pressure at the guard position to brilliance as a pick-and-roll ball handler, the point guard brings so many skills to the table that set him apart as an offensive juggernaut. On any given night, he can serve as a one-man offense with playmaking and shot-creation abilities that rival the best the game has ever seen.

The national disrespect will only fuel Young as he enters the pinnacle of his prime with a revamped squad at his disposal. The Hawks could surprise a lot of people, and Young will certainly be the head of the snake if that happens.