Comments Reveal A Striking Truth About Trae Young’s Hawks Era

In 2026, Trae Young spoke on the "Curious Mike" podcast about a striking reality regarding his time with the Atlanta Hawks. Young noted that he never had a teammate capable of drawing double teams, a sentiment that may spark debate among Hawks supporters. Despite the presence of several quality players in Atlanta during Young's tenure, the team failed to find another elite offensive threat who could consistently pressure defenses.

The organization attempted to fill this void with Dejounte Murray, acquired from the San Antonio Spurs, but the partnership proved challenging. Murray, while capable of creating his own shot and taking over possessions, struggled to command double teams consistently, much like Young. This lack of defensive impact prevented Murray from becoming the complementary star the Hawks envisioned when they made the trade.

Young and Murray's offensive synergy was limited, ultimately leaving Young to carry significant responsibilities as both the Hawks' primary scorer and facilitator. As a result, playoff opponents could tailor their defensive strategies to limit Young's impact. Young's comments should not be seen as disrespectful to his Hawks teammates, as the organization did secure notable contributions from Clint Capela, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Kristaps Porzingis.

However, the Hawks never achieved the success of other championship contenders, who often have multiple players capable of forcing defenses to make tough decisions. The closest the Hawks came to overcoming this limitation was their memorable 2021 Eastern Conference Finals run, but an ankle injury sustained during Game 3 against the Milwaukee Bucks remains a significant what-if moment.

While Young elevated the roster during that postseason, it also fueled expectations for Atlanta to acquire another elite player to help him consistently compete at that level. The organization, however, never successfully completed this roster-building process, further highlighting the challenges Atlanta faced in finding the right formula around Trae Young.