What Happened to Trae Young?

I still remember when Trae Young was supposed to take over the league. He came in with all the hype, drawing comparisons to Steph Curry because of his limitless range, flashy handles, and ability to score from just about anywhere. In college at Oklahoma, he led the nation in both points and assists. That wasn’t normal. And when he got drafted, there were already people either rooting for him to fail or expecting him to become the next big thing. He had that kind of polarizing energy. But either way, everyone was watching. And early on, he delivered. He didn’t need three or four years to figure things out. He came in, put up big numbers, and made it clear that he belonged. Then came the 2021 playoffs. That was the moment it felt like Trae Young had officially arrived. He took the Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals, beat the Knicks in the Garden, and became a full-blown villain in front of one of the most hostile crowds in the league. The bow at center court, the floaters, the deep threes, he embraced that moment like a superstar. Then he beat the top-seeded Sixers in a brutal seven-game series. And even though the Hawks lost to the Bucks in the ECF, everyone was saying the same thing: Trae Young is next.

But that moment never really turned into anything more. Since that run, Trae has still been productive. He’s still putting up 25 and 10 most nights. But the spotlight has drifted away. The Hawks haven’t gotten back to that same level, and honestly, they haven’t even looked close. They’ve gone through coaches, had locker room drama, and just haven’t had the same spark. Trae’s efficiency has dipped, his defense has always been a weak point, and it feels like he’s stuck in this weird spot where he’s good enough to be an All-Star but no longer considered one of the rising faces of the league.

And while other young stars like Shai, Tatum, Ant, and Luka are making deep runs and getting MVP buzz, Trae feels like he’s stuck. I don’t think Trae Young fell off, but I do think the league moved on a little. He’s still only 26 and has time to evolve his game and get back into the spotlight, but something needs to change. Either the Hawks build a real contender around him, or he finds a new situation where he can compete. Because as fun as it is watching him hit logo threes and drop 30 and 10, it doesn't mean much if he's not doing it when it matters most. I still believe in Trae’s talent. But right now, he feels more like a star stuck in neutral than the future superstar we thought he was going to be.