Former NBA point guard takes unnecessary shot at Trae Young, Hawks

Trae Young is no stranger to hearing his name in trade talks. Over the years, the star point guard’s name has popped up in rumors time and time again. 

A former NBA point guard recently added fuel to the fire with some controversial comments about Young and the Atlanta Hawks. Austin Rivers, who played for seven teams in 11 years until 2023, spoke about Young on a Nov. 25 episode of his podcast Off the Guard.

Rivers -- the son of former Hawks point guard Doc Rivers -- fired shots at the Hawks organization, suggesting the team is too irrelevant for a talent like Young to play for. 

“I haven't seen Trae Young play a meaningful game since God knows when,” Rivers said. “Every time I turn on the Hawks, it's a game that nobody gives a f–k about who wins. You're not going anywhere. Get out of there, get out.”

Rivers’ comments seem pretty extreme given the amount of young talent the Hawks have built their foundation with. Young turned 26 just a few months ago, and he is surrounded by one of the most promising rosters in the NBA.

Ice Trae has also enjoyed the best playmaking season of his career, displaying clear chemistry with his youthful teammates to the tune of 12.4 assists per game. More importantly, the Hawks are playing with their best collective ball movement of the Trae Young era. Atlanta is dishing out 29.9 assists per game, good for third in the NBA. They currently lead the league in games with 30 or more assists.

During Young’s time in ATL, the Hawks have always struggled to share the ball as a unit. Their past lack of ball movement has always hurt them in the postseason, but their newfound identity could help them avoid stagnant stretches of offense as the season progresses.

Atlanta’s latest NBA Cup success makes Austin Rivers’ comments look silly

Since Rivers’ disrespectful comments, the Hawks have defeated the top-ranked Cleveland Cavaliers twice in three days. The second win helped the Hawks secure a spot in the NBA Cup Knockout Rounds with victory in a group that included the 17-3 Cavs and the defending champion Boston Celtics. 

Atlanta’s key wins over the Celtics and Cavs were enough to help them advance to the quarterfinals of the mid-season tournament. Despite their 9-11 record, the Hawks have gained some serious momentum by handing Cleveland two of its three losses on the season.

Dishing out 33 assists between the two wins, Young looked more than happy to orchestrate an offense that posted a 121.2 offensive rating overall. While Rivers’ comments suggest that Ice Trae should want to leave Atlanta, Young’s passion for the team and the city tells a much different story.

Young and his wife recently donated food at an Atlanta homeless shelter. They served dinners for homeless men, women, and children in the spirit of Thanksgiving. Young has established strong roots within the Atlanta community, making Rivers’ comments look that much sillier.

With Young and his teammates starting to find their rhythm, the Hawks could make a serious run for a top-six seed in the Eastern Conference. A confident Hawks squad could be bad news for the NBA, but it might be even worse news for Austin Rivers.