The Atlanta Hawks are off today, but three-time – and, hopefully, soon-to-be four-time – All-Star Trae Young is making headlines.
In the midst of a strong season that has seen him take the second-fewest shot attempts of his career, Young is embarking on a basketball venture of a different kind, and he is teaming up with former six-time NBA All-Star Blake Griffin.
The two shared a promo for their new Legynds Basketball Club, even poking fun at the spelling.
“Did we misspell ‘legends,’” Griffin asks Young after someone off camera points out the error to the two stars in the clip shared on X on January 10.
“I don’t know,” Young replied. “Neither one of us finished school.”
Both players were 1-and-done at the Oklahoma. After a quick cut, Griffin appears on screen attempting to explain the supposed error, which is a play on the first letters in each player’s last name.
“We definitely did it on purpose,” Griffin said. “Because it’s usually spelled how it’s usually spelled, but he had the idea of the “G” –”
“Yep, and he talked about the “Y,” Young said.
“It was a collaboration,” Griffin said. “So it’s spelled like that on purpose.
LEGYNDS BASKETBALL CLUB!
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) January 10, 2025
EYBL! To the next generation, Let’s do this together! @blakegriffin23 https://t.co/ogkCQBiRC6 pic.twitter.com/SJYA0yKWuS
The Elite Youth Basketball League – EYBL – is a circuit for AAU travel teams of boys and girls under the age of 18. There are six stops on the 2025 circuit, starting in Mesa, Arizona in April and ending with the Peach Jam in North Augusta, South Carolina in July.
Trae Young taking advantage of Jordan Brand partnership
Fans will notice the Jordan Brand logo flash at the end of the spot. Notably, this program fits one of the staple benefits Young was expected to reap when his deal with Jordan Brand was announced.
“Young is also expected to give back throughout the state through his new Jordan deal. A key element he was looking for in his next shoe deal was the ability to field a grassroots team on a brand’s AAU circuit, providing high school players from his home state with the same platform for exposure that helped a teenage Young rise from the midwest to a top-ranked point guard in the country,” BoardroomTV’s Nick DePaula wrote in November 2024.
“He will now have a Jordan-sponsored AAU team providing that opportunity, and providing sneakers, to young athletes in Oklahoma.”
Young was previously an adidas athlete, but the brand opted not to renew their partnership.
His decision was highly anticipated, with Jordan Brand and Chinese outfit Anta both vying to land the three-time All-Star. Young also notably changed his representation this past offseason, going from the polarizing Klutch Sports to the equally impactful CAA.