Trae Young has been held to a different standard than other stars in the league, and the Hawks superstar continues to do things very few other players have done at his age.
Ice Trae is only 24 years old and has led the league in total points and assists — something only one other player has done. He’s also reached the Conference Finals without another All-Star on his team. Stephen Curry didn’t get that far in the postseason until his sixth season when he was 26 years old, which just so happens to be when Steve Kerr took over for Mark Jackson.
I’m not saying Trae Young is going to accomplish the things Curry has, but the hate is undeserved. He’s accomplished so much already, but NBA pundits continue to spew their hate. This time, it comes from Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer. StatMuse wondered where the Hawks backcourt of Trae Young and Dejounte Murray ranks amongst the league, and O’Connor thought it was the perfect time to do what he does best — hate on Young.
There are a couple of these backcourts that are laughable.
The Celtics — Derrick White and Malcolm Brogdon — don’t hold a candle to the Hawks’ duo. Neither have been All-Stars, while Young and Murray have. Even if Jaylen Brown starts at shooting guard for the Celtics this season, it’s still not as good as what the Hawks have in Atlanta.
The Thunder — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey — is even crazier. SGA is a stud, and though Giddey is an ascending talent, the youngster averaged 16 points last season. I don’t even need to argue that point.
Perhaps the most jarring is the Bucks backcourt of Jrue Holiday and Grayson Allen. Holiday is past his prime but was never the player Trae Young is, and Allen isn’t in the same conversation as Murray. Of course, O’Connor tried to say the Bucks backcourt consisted of Holiday and Khris Middleton, which doesn’t make sense because Middleton has been a small forward his entire career. Another example of O’Connor moving goalposts just to spread is misinformed Trae Young narrative. It’s almost embarrassing at this point.
To make matters worse, O’Connor’s statements of “probably more” and “whoever lands Dame or Harden” further his obvious gripe with the Hawks’ superstar.
I could even argue the backcourt in Atlanta is better than the Grizzlies and Mavericks. Ja Morant is an exceptional talent but can’t get out of his own way — something Young and Murray have never had trouble with. You could say the same for Kyrie Irving.
The Cavaliers’ backcourt of Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell is actually similarly skilled as the Hawks, in my opinion. Neither player has accomplished what Young has in the postseason. Moreover, the Cavs folded like a lawn chair against a terrible Knicks team in last year’s playoffs.
The Suns’ backcourt of Devin Booker and Bradley Beal is comparable, but I digress. The Warriors of 2023 aren’t the Warriors of years past. However, for argument’s sake, I’ll leave that one alone. Kevin O’Connor might be trolling. I have no idea, but it’s clear he possesses some deep-rooted hatred for Trae Young.
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