Hawks' Quin Snyder reacts to Trae Young's ejection in loss to Nuggets

Trae Young did not finish the Atlanta Hawks’ 129-122 loss to the Denver Nuggets, ejected after receiving double technical fouls for arguing a non-call. 

“I think it's best to to let that settle and figure it out afterwards,” Hawks head coach Quin Snyder when asked for his thoughts on the sequence in which he also received a tech. “I can't comment on it actually. I'm not sure the sequence of events, and it's hard to hear everything on the other side of the court.”

“Those are things that get talked about by people that have an impact on it.”

Crew Chief Ben Taylor spoke with Lauren L. Williams of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and said that Young initiated the contact with the defender leading to the no-call on his drive. Taylor was asked about the sequence that led to Snyder’s technical and Young’s ejection.

“He received a warning and Young continued directing unsportsmanlike comments and then claps at the official,” Taylor said, noting the continued behavior as the reason for the second foul which resulted in Young’s ejection, per Brad Rowland of “Locked On Hawks”. “Snyder comes way onto the basketball floor to continue to complain about the play.”

Young has not had the friendliest of working relationships with officials over the years despite annually being among the league leaders in free throw attempts per game.

His personal fouls are up this season compared to last. But only slightly. 

He’s drawing the second most fouls of his career on a per-game basis. But Young’s demonstrative displays have also led to his ranking among the league leaders in technical fouls over the last two seasons, leading the league in 2022.

Young finished with 19 points, nine assists, one rebound, and one steal. He did have five turnovers, though. The outspoken point guard did attempt (and make) seven free throws. But he was visibly upset after several apparent incidents that went by without a whistle. Young was ejected once last season.

He forcefully passed the ball to an official versus the Indiana Pacers in March. And he has been known to make comments and gestures towards officials mockingly in dissatisfaction.

He was also ejected in 2019 for staring at then-Chicago Bulls guard Kris Dunn’s back.

Young also has to be wary of suspension, though having seven technical fouls now, he still has some cushion before he approaches the 16-tech limit. Until then, the would-be mandatory one-game suspension is not a threat.

But, on the heels of his $25,000 fine for confronting an official during the loss to the Brooklyn Nets, this is something Young and the Hawks should want to get under control.

Hawks fall short despite career night from Bogdan Bogdanovic

Bogdan Bogdanovic did yeoman’s work trying to keep the Hawks in a game that got out of hand as Denver built a 20-point lead at one point. The Hawks faced a 13-point deficit when Young went out but would go on to cut the lead down to four points, albeit with just 30 seconds to go.

The veteran finished the night with 40 points on 58.3% shooting, connecting on 10-of-17 threes with three assists, three rebounds, and two steals.

His points and made threes set new career-high marks.

“We've seen him do that in stretches for sure,” Snyder said. “His performance individually was a special night, and we want that from him. And he's capable of doing that.”

Bogdanovic did not start the game. His 40 points are the most by any player this season and should only help his Sixth Man of The Year candidacy. He is averaging 16.1 points on 59.4% true shooting, the second-best mark of his career, and hitting 38.5% of his triples.  

Snyder commended Young and Dejounte Murray (21 points, six rebounds, three assists) for continuing to find Bogdanovic even after the defense began to key on him. The Hawks, losers of four straight, next head to Toronto for a pair of games against the Raptors.