Trae Young is out to disprove the doubters.
The three-time All-Star acknowledged the negative perceptions around the Hawks’ new-look roster and is not shying away from the challenge. He aims to get back to his All-NBA form and the last time that happened, the Hawks went to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Young is not just about talk, though. He is about action, and one way to ensure he is giving himself the best chance to do that is by strengthening the team’s chemistry.
Young is getting in offseason work in with teammates Jalen Johnson and Garrison Mathews.
The run was put on by noted NBA trainer Chris Johnson, whom both Young and Johnson have worked with on numerous occasions. It also featured fellow NBAers Jaren Jackson Jr. (the 2022-23 Defensive Player of the Year) and JaVale McGee and G Leaguer Zaire Wade.
The Hawks did not put up the best numbers when the trio shared the floor in 2023-24, even when subtracting players who are now on different teams.
Still, they figure to see plenty of time on the court together in 2024-25.
Trae Young building chemistry with Hawks teammates
This is just the latest showing from Young, who has trained with Johnson throughout this offseason. He has also been sure to include new teammates Dyson Daniels and rookie No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher.
Both players attended his “From The Point Weekend.” Young and Risacher popped out to the Oklahoma-Tulane game over the college football weekend.
Zacch's first ever college football game with Ice 😎 pic.twitter.com/g2ebOfalRY
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) September 16, 2024
“I want to get back to where I've been,” Young said on the “Million Dollars Worth of Game” podcast episode that aired on September 8.
“A lot of people look at our roster and don't have a lot of high expectations, so that's sometimes good for a player like me who's been built on beating expectations his whole life. So I'm just ready to play and beat expectations and whatever that ends up being, I'm going to be ready for it and excited for it.”
The Hawks missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2019-20 season in 2023-24.
They earned the final spot in the Play-In Tournament in 2023-24, and with an expected step back coming in 2024-25, it will be an uphill climb.
The Hawks finished four games ahead of the 11th-place team, the Brooklyn Nets. They could also benefit from the Chicago Bulls’ – who finished 9th in 2023-24 – taking a potentially intentional step back in 2024-25.
Chicago owes its 2025 first-round pick to the San Antonio Spurs – something the Hawks know all about.
They can keep their pick if it lands in the top-10.
Unfortunately for the Hawks, climbing much higher than that could be tough. The teams already behind them should remain there, though the Toronto Raptors usually find a way to be competitive.
Still, the Hawks could be pushing for the ninth seed at best. The question is what that would mean for the current group at the trade deadline and after the season.