Who Is Trae Young Today?
Trae Young is the starting point guard for the Atlanta Hawks and one of the NBA’s most prominent offensive playmakers, celebrated for his deep shooting and high-assist totals. He has grown from a standout at Oklahoma into a multi-time NBA All-Star and the central figure in Atlanta’s offense.
In the 2024-25 season, Young averaged roughly 24.2 points, 11.6 assists and 3.1 rebounds over 76 games, earning his fourth All-Star appearance and ranking among the league’s most productive guards. Those numbers underscored his role as both a primary scorer and one of the top table-setters in the league.
Latest Stats and Injury Status
Entering the 2025-26 campaign, Young’s early-season per-game line sat around 17.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 7.8 assists on 37% shooting from the field for the Hawks. While his scoring volume dipped relative to the year before, he remained the main initiator of Atlanta’s half-court sets and transition attack.
A knee issue that surfaced late in the prior season and lingered into the offseason became a key storyline, leading to stretches of missed games and careful minutes management. Team updates framed the injury as significant enough to warrant caution but not career-altering, with an emphasis on rehabilitation and preserving his explosiveness for the long term.
Impact on the Hawks and Future Outlook
Young’s presence transforms Atlanta’s offense, with advanced metrics highlighting his massive share of pick-and-roll initiations, assist opportunities and late-clock possessions. His ability to draw multiple defenders, pull up from beyond the three-point line and find shooters or lob targets is the foundation of the Hawks’ offensive identity.
At the same time, his defensive limitations and periods of inefficient shooting spark debates about roster construction and scheme. The Hawks’ long-term outlook hinges on pairing Young with strong perimeter defenders and versatile bigs while maintaining enough shooting to fully leverage his playmaking. If he can stay healthy and refine his shot selection and defense, Young projects to remain one of the league’s most influential offensive guards and a central figure in Atlanta’s push toward deeper playoff runs.