In recent memory, no player has faced more pressure than Trae Young will this year.
The Atlanta Hawks have opted not to offer a max extension to Young, who has a player option for next season. But $229 million isn't the only thing on the line for Young - his reputation hinges on his performance this year.
Will he be able to prove critics like Patrick Beverley, who call Young a coach-killer and a losing player, wrong? Or will he live in the history books as a player who just wasn't good enough for the biggest of moments? Next season seems like the year the answer to this question will finally reveal itself.
What makes Young's situation so unique is that Atlanta just assembled a team handcrafted for Young this offseason. The team is ostensibly sending mixed messages, first indicating confidence by relentlessly making moves to create the perfect Young-led team, then signaling a lack of confidence, instead asking him to prove he deserves a max deal.
But what if that is just what Young needs?
Young has been put in the perfect position to overperform this season
Heading into his eighth season of NBA service, Young finally has a team that is capable of making a deep playoff run. While the team made the Eastern Conference Finals with him at the helm, this was due to a truly heroic run by Young (and a well-timed collapse in Philadelphia).
Young is flanked by future All-Star Jalen Johnson, former All-Star Kristaps Porzingis, and a monstrous group of role players. These role players include the 2024 first-overall pick (Zaccharie Risacher), the 2025 Defensive Player of the Year runner-up (Dyson Daniels), the active career three point percentage leader (Luke Kennard), and a 2025 Sixth Man of the Year contender (Nickeil Alexander-Walker).
This is just naming the players with accolades, or in Johnson's case, predicted to receive accolades. The Hawks arguably have the best bench in the league entering next season, starring Kennard and Alexander-Walker. These two are supported by Onyeka Okongwu, who had a quiet breakout year last season, and Caleb Houstan, a 40% three point shooter last season.
Young has never had a team nearly as talented as this year's Hawks. With these players, he finally has the freedom to be his self on offense. Gone are the days of grimacing when Young makes the (usually correct) decision to pass the ball rather than taking a tough shot.
Trae Young is a beast under pressure, finishing fourth in Clutch Player of the Year voting last season and giving fans countless unforgettable moments. For those who need statistical proof, his effective field goal percentage rose 4% in clutch situations last season.
Next season will provide a different challenge than a clutch situation, but there is no evidence to suggest Young will fall victim to the weight of the moment. At nearly every point in his career, Young has displayed a cold-blooded attitude that propels him to victory in tense situations.
With all eyes on Young and the best team supporting him in his career, he's right where he wants to be. While it might take a moment for him to gel with his new teammates, pressure has historically unleashed the best version of Young.