The Atlanta Hawks were idle on Wednesday night, awaiting their next matchup against the Brooklyn Nets before closing out the regular season against the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic. As usual, Hawks star Trae Young remained tuned in to the action going on in the NBA.
Young and the rest of the basketball world watched as former Dallas Maverick star Luka Doncic made his return to his first NBA home, this time as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Doncic was the centerpiece of the biggest blockbuster trade the league has had in years.
He could be seen visibly weeping as the Mavericks played a tribute video celebrating his tenure. Doncic’s reaction drew a fitting one from young, whose own future with the Hawks has come into question for several years.
“He was never gonna leave…,” Young said in a post on X, sharing the clip of an emotional Doncic.
Luka wiping tears after watching Mavs tribute video 🥺 pic.twitter.com/9tYtzdW3A0
— ESPN (@espn) April 9, 2025
Young has shot down speculation about his future on numerous occasions, including recently in an interview with Chris Haynes on “The Haynes Briefs Podcast.”
Doncic and were traded for one another, swapped in an agreement between the Hawks and Mavericks during the 2018 NBA draft. Their careers have been compared ever since. With Hawks, fans often lamenting the fact that they gave up on the uber-talented who only to now face a new reality as his trade opens app a world of potential possibilities for their own All-Star.
Trae Young looking forward to future with Hawks
However, Young has remained content to be in Atlanta, going so far as to tout the team’s future as well as highlight the optimistic signs in the present amid a turbulent and injury-marred campaign.
He leads the NBA in total and per-game assists.
Young, who has made more franchise and NBA history this season, can become a free agent after the 2025-2026 season.
With so much at stake, one would think the outcome of this season is paramount for his future in Atlanta. However, Young has been clear to say that he is optimistic about what the team is building and looks forward to helping the young guys that the team has brought in.
The Hawks are also still alive for the playoffs.
Young’s message on Doncic offers a firm reminder from a player – who may or may not know from first-hand knowledge – how he might feel if he was placed in a similar situation as Doncic. Like many in the NBA world, Doncic was blindsided by the Mavericks’ decision.
Doncic scored 38 points on 59.1% shooting through three quarters against the Mavs.