Victor Wembanyama gives Hawks legend the ultimate praise after stunning win

Victor Wembanyama has a strong argument to be the best basketball player in the world, but according to him, he's not the best Knicks villain.

After triumphantly defeating the New York Knicks in Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals, Wembanyama was asked if it's the "ultimate compliment" to be the city's newest villain, to which he responded, "I guess, I'm nowhere near Trae Young level though."

While Young is no longer a member of the Hawks following his trade to the Washington Wizards in January, it's nice to see his impact is still being felt in the arena he loved to dominate the most.

Trae Young gave the Hawks their deepest playoff run ever

Amidst all the excitement regarding Atlanta entering a promising new era of hoops, it's important to look back at those who paved the way to the direction they're on now. While the Young era didn't exactly end how either side had hoped, he's responsible for the franchise's most magical moments.

He's one of the clutchest postseason performers in the world, and his most notable showing was in the first-round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs against the favored New York Knicks.

Against all odds, Young led his Hawks to a five-game rout, eventually reaching the Eastern Conference Finals and just two wins away from a trip to the NBA Finals. In that first-round series, though, his most memorable moments were made.

A satisfying game-winning floater in Game One shifted momentum completely, and Young wasn't quiet about it, shushing the Madison Square Garden crowd after they'd been chirping profanity at him all night.

Later in the series, in the game that sent them to the next round to take on the Philadelphia 76ers, Young hit a dagger logo-three and bowed for the audience. It was a performance for the ages.

Hawks fans have every reason to root for Wemby to finish the job

Hawks fans who still have love for Trae Young, which should be the majority, now have a new favorite player in Victor Wembanyama, at least for the time being. It's not often that a player has a stellar NBA Finals performance and name-drops an Atlanta player postgame.

It's even sweeter, as the Knicks were able to get revenge on the Hawks this year for their 2021 meeting, sending them home in six games.

Justice would be served if Wembanyama - after shouting out one of Atlanta's greatest players of all time - finished the job and broke the hearts of Knicks fans on the world's biggest stage.

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