Trae Young was not named to the 2025 All-Star roster for the Eastern Conference, and he did not exactly prove the voters were wrong for their decision, judging from comments made by Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal.
Young finished the first half of the Hawks matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers with 13 points on 4-for-10 shooting.
He was 2-for-5 from deep with 2 assists.
“We thought he would come on with a little more ferocity, but I think he's taking this like a regular game,” O'Neal told Ernie Johnson during the TNT American Express Halftime Report on January 30. “When you feel like you're snubbed, that's when you come out chucking
“You come out with a ferocity, let all the voters and all the coaches know how you made a mistake.”
Trae from Akron 📍 pic.twitter.com/YrcDlNXL8F
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 31, 2025
“I think he just took that as a regular game, I would have loved to see him come out with that ferocity to let everybody know that, ‘Hey, you made a mistake.’”
The Hawks trailed the Cavs 71-63 at the break.
Young has often been criticized for being a “chucker” before. It is ironic that he is now being criticized for not putting up shots just for the sake of it. This also comes on the heels of the 26-year-old point guard has received praise for turning his game into something more team-friendly.
Troubling trend persists for Hawks' Trae Young
Young has alternated All-Star appearances, notably failing to make it during the team's best run in recent memory (2021). He did make it the next season, though. It is part of a pattern for the three-time All-Star, who earned his nod in 2023-24 as an injury replacement.
It is part of a pattern for the three-time All-Star, who earned his nod in 2023-24 as an injury replacement. Young and the Hawks are also dealing with the loss of Jalen Johnson for the season.
He was the No. 2 option on the offense.
That leaves Young in a difficult position. If he reverts back to taking a higher volume of shots to make up for the loss of Johnson, the ball-hog narrative is all but sure to resurface.
If he does not, he is criticized for not doing enough to warrant a spot. He leads the league in assists and several other categories.
Young could still make the All-Star roster as an injury replacement again. But there seems to be a notable tinge on him in voters’ eyes.
It is unfortunate that arguably the greatest young passer (if not overall) in the game does not garner the respect he deserves amid a truly historic career.