The Atlanta Hawks still have two more days off before they return to the court with a road date against the San Antonio Spurs. But Trae Young is already locked back in following the team’s harrowing loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in the Emirates NBA Cup Semifinals.
It was a goal for the Hawks coming into the season, according to rookie Zaccharie Risacher.
However, Young shared a message that underscored his improved leadership this season; one of the catalysts for the Hawks’ improved play.
“Every loss hurts,” Young posted on X on December 16. “But season is far from over! We Keep Movin’”
Every loss hurts…. But season is far from over! We Keep Movin’ pic.twitter.com/xzVXfXoDBC
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) December 16, 2024
The Hawks are technically not even one-third of the way through their regular season schedule (32.9%, to be exact). They have played a fairly balanced slate, with 14 road games and 13 home.
They also dealt with injuries through the first month, during which time they went 7-11. Since then, the Hawks have gone 7-2.
Young delivered in a big way versus the Bucks.
He finished with 35 points, 10 assists, 7 rebounds, and 1 block in the game. He also regained his touch from beyond the arc, going 3-for-5. Young had sunk more than two triples just once in the previous seven games coming in versus Milwaukee.
Young is leading the NBA in assists at 12.1 per game.
Trae Young tracking to snap 31-Year NBA Drought
Young has taken heed to the advice from members of the Hawks organization, and it is paying off in Hall-of-Fame fashion.
“Hawks officials have been working with Young -- who can be a bit of an introvert, teammates have noticed over his career -- on his leadership and relationship-building skills,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst wrote on December 13. “It's still a work in progress, but Young is becoming better at it, team sources said, and it's been one of the many positives for the Hawks this season.”
Young is currently tracking for the first 12.0-plus-assist season since 1994-95.
Former Utah Jazz star John Stockton was the last player to do it. Stockton would also be a fine player for Young to model the next evolution of his game after.
Stockton was of a similar build to Young, but he did not let that stop him. Where Young is similar is on offense, where he attacks the paint despite his relatively diminutive stature. However, Young could stand to be more like Stockton on defense.
Stockton led the NBA in steals two times and at least 2.0 takeaways 10 times in his career.
He also led the NBA in assists nine times. Young has never led the league in either category yet, topping out at 1.3 SPG for the second straight season this year.
Stockton was a legend for the Utah Jazz, Hawks head coach Quin Snyer’s previous home for eight seasons, long before he made it into the NBA Hall of Fame. Young, who has improved defensively in each of the past two seasons, still has a long way to go to get there.
Emulating Stockton – on both ends of the court – is a good way to start.