Hawks' Trae Young sounds off after NBA's latest failed attempt

Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young is all of us.

Many NBA fans voiced their opinions about the NBA’s latest attempts to revamp and – more importantly – revitalize the All-Star game. A large swath of fans came away disappointed, and their sentiments were shared by those participating in the festivities.

Young, a four-time All-Star making his second straight appearance as an injury alternate, did not like the format or the planned stoppages during games, including the championship game.

That break took roughly 18 minutes in real-time.

“I didn’t like it at all, to be honest with you,” Young told reporters on February 16. “I don’t know what the fan’s reaction is yet, and things like that. But I think it’s too many breaks you know what I’m saying? It’s just too long of a break, and guys are over there ready to play, and stuff like that. I thought it was very competitive at the beginning, but then, as the games kept going on, I think it was just too long of breaks. 

“I didn’t know how long it was, but it felt like it was 30 minutes.”

“I don’t know about the target score thing. I don’t know about the four teams and all that.” Young said. “I’m a traditional East [versus] West guy. 

“I think there’s a way to make it a incentive or thing like that to make guys compete really hard, and just do the best players from the East, the best place from the West, and they compete. And try to – I don’t know – use that pride, protecting your side, so I feel like that’s a better way to go about it.” 

Young was not the only player to slam the new format.

The NBA’s All-Star game lost its luster long ago. This year’s dunk contest – and the past two seasons – have been anchored by G League stalwart Mac McClung. San Antonio Spurs players Chris Paul and Victor Wembanyama attempted to circumvent the rules in the skill competition.

Reigning 3-point contest champion Damian Lillard was eliminated from the contest in the first round.

The NBA has a lot of work to do to get its All-Star break back up to snuff, that is if it still can.

Trae Young, Chuck’s Global Stars struggle in championship game

Young and Chuck’s Global Stars did not have as successful of a follow-up performance as they did in their first meeting against Team Kenny’s Young Stars. They won that game 41-32 with Young chipping in 4 points and 5 assists. 

Young and Co. fell to Shaq’s OGs – a team chock full of experienced All-Stars, just at the name implies – in the championship game.

The Hawks guard struggled, going 0-for-3, with all of his looks coming from downtown.

He did have 2 boards and a pair of assists in the 41-25 loss, playing just over four minutes. He was not the only Global Star who struggled in the contest. Only two of the four players who scored for Young’s team made multiple field goals.

It was a disappointing ending for Young to an all-around disappointing experience for fans and many in the NBA world.

Perhaps this spars more changes, maybe even one reverting to the old format.