Trae Young has to definitively prove that he deserves to be the franchise player for the Atlanta Hawks this season, with both his contract and his reputation on the line.
NBA skills trainer David Thorpe believes that for Young to accomplish this, he must “play the way he needs to play.” Thorpe lays out a simple path for Young: to “share the ball, which he normally does very well, [and] compete on defense.”
Thorpe concluded his expectations for Young with, “The next phase for Trae is to recognize I can do less on offense, more on defense, and my team will win more. I won't score as many points. I won't be in the all-star boats I got before, but we'll win more.”
On the offensive side, Young is a talented enough player to build an elite playoff unit around. An elite scoring threat who is an even stronger passer, Young has the perfect archetype to quarterback the offense.
However, despite his passing talent, Young has often been forced to take too many shots. He has never had an elite shooting team around him, nor has he had the consistent presence of a capable second option on offense. With these limiting conditions, Young has had to overcompensate on the offensive end, which in turn made him a less efficient scorer.
On the other end of the floor, Young simply has to compete on defense. With his frame, Young will always be a weakness on the defensive side. However, other players with Young’s build have found ways to minimize their negative impact through relentless effort and actively working to avoid mismatches.
If Young can embrace a more all-around role, the Hawks will be a force to be reckoned with
Luckily for Young and the Hawks, these changes are all mental. Young is not being asked to prove his new skill or showcase physical growth. Rather, he must show a willingness to adapt to the ideal role within this reloaded roster.
For Young’s offense, he should look to emulate Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton’s approach to the game. Both Young and Haliburton are point guards who can score and create for teammates at will. The primary difference in their styles of offensive leadership is that Young shoots a little too often, while Haliburton shoots a little too infrequently.
Young’s overshooting is a product of the teams around him, as mentioned earlier. With one of the best supporting casts and three point shooting teams in the league, however, Young no longer has this problem.
It may sound ridiculous to ask the league leader in assists last season to pass the ball more. This isn’t to say Young has been a selfish ball hog dragging the team down, as many in the media have portrayed him to be. Instead, there is simply no need for every possession to revolve around Young anymore. By embracing a role that emphasizes his skill as a facilitator rather than his scoring, he will set the team and himself up for success.
Part of why Young needs to take a step back within the offense is to support his defense. Like all players, Young has a finite level of stamina. Considering his height and strength disadvantages against the average NBA player, Young will always have to work harder than most to have an average defensive impact. By getting the ball out of his hands earlier, Young frees up energy to allocate to the defensive side of the game.
Young has done the hard part of being the leader of a playoff team. Now, he must transition his scoring-dominant mindset to a more well-rounded approach. With the best coaching and supporting cast of his career, Young is destined for a breakout season when he finds his rhythm in this role.