_(cropped).jpg) Young at the2022 NBA All-Star Game | |||||||||||||||
| No. 11 – Atlanta Hawks | |||||||||||||||
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| Position | Point guard | ||||||||||||||
| League | NBA | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born | (1998-09-19)September 19, 1998 (age 27) Lubbock, Texas, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 164 lb (74 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school | Norman North (Norman, Oklahoma) | ||||||||||||||
| College | Oklahoma (2017–2018) | ||||||||||||||
| NBA draft | 2018: 1st round, 5th overall pick | ||||||||||||||
| Drafted by | Dallas Mavericks | ||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 2018–present | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
| 2018–present | Atlanta Hawks | ||||||||||||||
| Career highlights | |||||||||||||||
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Stats at NBA.com  | |||||||||||||||
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |||||||||||||||
Medals
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Rayford Trae Young (born September 19, 1998)[1] is an American professionalbasketball player for theAtlanta Hawks of theNational Basketball Association (NBA). He playedcollege basketball for theOklahoma Sooners, where in his one season in 2017–18, he tied the thenNational Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I single-gameassists record with 22 and became the only player to ever lead the NCAA in bothpoints and assists in a single season. Nicknamed "Ice Trae",[2][3] he was drafted by theDallas Mavericks in the2018 NBA draft with the fifth pick, and traded the same day to the Atlanta Hawks, along with a future first-round pick, for the draft rights toLuka Dončić. He joined Dončić in a unanimous selection to the2019 NBA All-Rookie First Team. He is a four-timeNBA All-Star, and has led the Hawks to three playoff runs, including a trip to theEastern Conference Finals in 2021.
Born on September 19, 1998 inLubbock, Texas, Trae is the son of Candice and Rayford Young,[4] who played basketball atTexas Tech and professionally in Europe.[5][6] He has a younger brother and two younger sisters. Young also has an uncle who played college basketball in theNAIA.[7] Trae was raised inPampa, Texas, by his mother and paternal grandparents, as his father played basketball overseas.[8][9]
Young attendedNorman North High School inNorman,Oklahoma. In his sophomore year, he averaged 25 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds per game as he helped Norman North win the 2015 area championship and was named Oklahoma's Sophomore of the Year. During his junior year, he significantly improved his game, averaging 34.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists as he led the team to a 28–4 record, winning the regional title and placing second in the 2016 Oklahoma Class 6A championship game. In his senior year, he averaged 42.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game while shooting at a 48.9% rate.[10]
Young was considered one of the best players in the 2017 recruiting class byScout.com,Rivals.com andESPN.[11][12] ESPN considered him the second-best point guard prospect that year, while the other websites considered him the third best. On February 16, 2017, Young committed to the Oklahoma Sooners. He was theUniversity of Oklahoma's first five-star recruit sinceTiny Gallon in 2010.[13]
| Name | Hometown | School | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trae Young PG | Norman, OK | Norman North High School (OK) | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 182 lb (83 kg) | Feb 16, 2017 | |
Recruit ratings:Scout:  Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: (94) | ||||||
| Overall recruit ranking: Scout: 21 Rivals: 14 247Sports: 18 ESPN: 15 | ||||||
Sources:
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To begin the2017–18 season, on November 12, Young recorded 15 points, 10 assists and six rebounds in a win overOmaha. Three days after his college debut, he recorded 22 points and a then season-high 13 assists in a win overBall State. On November 26, Young recorded a season-high 43 points and seven assists in a 90–80 win overOregon. That game had his name draw multiple comparisons toStephen Curry in terms of his playing style.[14][15] On December 19, Young tied (with three others) the then-NCAA single-game assists record with 22, while also recording 26 points in a 105–68 win againstNorthwestern State.[a][17] Throughout the season, Young rose from being a late first-round or a second-round pick to being a potential top-three pick for the2018 NBA draft.[18][19][20] He also garnered praise from bothLeBron James and Stephen Curry for his season with Oklahoma.[21] In January, his individual defense was rated as "poor".[22] He had a season-high 43 points with 11 rebounds and seven assists in a 102–97 overtime win overTCU on January 13. On January 20, Young recorded a new career-high 48 points in a 83–81 overtime loss to rivalOklahoma State.[citation needed]
Young finished his freshman regular season leading the country in many statistics: assists (271), points (848), points per game (27.4), assists per game (8.7) and assist percentage (48.6%). The 848 points scored in theBig 12 would break the conference's record for most points scored by a freshman player, which was previously held byKevin Durant andMichael Beasley.[citation needed] He became the only player to ever lead the NCAA in both points and assists in a single season.[23]
On March 7, 2018, Young was announced as the winner of theWayman Tisdale Award for National Freshman of the Year by theUnited States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA).[24] At the end of the regular season for Oklahoma, Young was also named Big 12's Freshman of the Year and was a member of the All-Big 12's First Team.[25] In addition, he was also brought up as a consensus member of the All-American First Team, which was named throughout multiple organizations. Young also joined 2018's top two selectionsDeandre Ayton andMarvin Bagley III as the first consensus All-American First-Team to have three freshman players be named there. On March 15, Young recorded 28 points, seven assists and five rebounds in an 83–78 overtime loss to seventh-seededRhode Island. He became the second freshman to record similar numbers of points in an NCAA tournament game, withChris Paul being the first player back in 2004.[26]
Following Oklahoma's loss in the2018 NCAA men's basketball tournament, Young announced his intention to forgo his final three seasons of collegiate eligibility and declare for the2018 NBA draft.[27]
On June 21, 2018, Young was selected with the fifth overall pick by his hometown team theDallas Mavericks in the2018 NBA draft, but was traded to theAtlanta Hawks, along with a protected future first-round pick in exchange for the rights to the third overall pickLuka Dončić.[28] On July 1, 2018, Young officially signed with the Hawks.[29] On October 21, in the Hawks' third game of the season, Young finished with a season-high 35 points and 11 assists in a 133–111 win over theCleveland Cavaliers.[30] On November 19, Young finished with a then-career-high 17 assists, 25 points and three rebounds in a 127–119 loss to theLos Angeles Clippers.[31] On February 25, 2019, Young scored a then-career-high 36 points and made career high eight three-pointers in a 119–111 loss to theHouston Rockets.[32] On February 27, Young recorded 36 points and 10 assists in a 131–123 overtime win over theMinnesota Timberwolves.[33] He then surpassed his season high two days later on March 1, putting up a then-career-high 49 points alongside 16 assists in a high-scoring 168–161 quadruple-overtime loss to theChicago Bulls.[34] On March 31, Young scored a game-winner and had 12 points and 16 assists against the first-seededMilwaukee Bucks.[35] He joined Dončić in a unanimous selection to the2019 NBA All-Rookie First Team.[36]
On October 24, 2019, Young scored 38 points in a 117–110 season-opening win against theDetroit Pistons.[37] On November 29, Young scored 49 points, including 21 points in the fourth quarter, in a 105–104 overtime loss to theIndiana Pacers.[38] On January 23, 2020, he was selected for theNBA All-Star selection as a backcourt starter.[39] On January 26, Young recorded 45 points and 14 assists in a 152–133 win against theWashington Wizards. Young wore No. 8 in the first eight seconds of the game in memory ofKobe Bryant, just hours afterhis death in a California helicopter crash.[40] Four days later, he posted 39 points and a career-high 18 assists en route to a 127–117 win over thePhiladelphia 76ers.[41] On February 9, Young registered 48 points and 13 assists in 47 minutes in a 140–135 double overtime win over theNew York Knicks.[42] On February 20, Young scored a career-high 50 points in a 129–124 win against theMiami Heat, hitting 8-of-15 three pointers.[43] On February 19, 2020,Bleacher Report named Young the worst defensive point guard in the NBA.[44]
On December 23, 2020, Young put up 37 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds, in a 124–104 season-opening win over theChicago Bulls.[45] On May 23, 2021, he made his NBA playoff debut, posting 32 points, 7 rebounds and 10 assists against theNew York Knicks, capping it off with a game-winning floater with 0.9 seconds left in regulation to lift the Hawks to a 107–105 victory in Game 1 of the first round.[46] Young also joinedLeBron James,Chris Paul andDerrick Rose as the only players in league history to record 30 points and 10 assists in their playoff debuts.[47] In a 109–106 victory over thePhiladelphia 76ers in Game 5 of the Conference Semifinals, Young put up 39 points, 7 assists and 3 steals leading the Hawks to a 26-point comeback victory.[48] In Game 7 of the Conference Semifinals, Young put up 21 points to lead the Hawks past the Sixers en route to their firstEastern Conference Finals appearance since 2015.[49] In Game 1 of the Conference Finals, Young dropped a playoff career-high 48 points, alongside 11 assists and seven rebounds in a 116–113 victory over theMilwaukee Bucks.[50] Young missed games 4 and 5 due to a bone bruise in his right foot.[51] Young returned in game 6, but the Hawks lost 118–107, ending their season.[52]
On August 3, 2021, Young agreed to a five-year max extension with the Hawks with $172 million guaranteed and potentially up to $207 million.[53]
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On November 14, 2021, Young scored a then season-high 42 points, along with 8 rebounds and 10 assists, to lead Atlanta to a 120–100 victory over the defending championMilwaukee Bucks.[54] On January 3, 2022, Young scored a career-high 56 points, along with 14 assists, in a 136–131 loss to thePortland Trail Blazers.[55] From November 22 to January 7, Young had 17th consecutive 25-point games, breaking a tie withDominique Wilkins for the franchise record.[56][57]
On January 27, Young was selected for the2022 NBA All-Star Game once again as a backcourt starter.[58] On February 3, Young scored 43 points in a 124–115 win against thePhoenix Suns to end their 11-game winning streak.[59] On February 26, Young scored 41 points and delivered 11 assists on 17-of-24 shooting from the field as Atlanta beat theToronto Raptors 127–100; it was Young's tenth career game with at least 40 points and 10 assists, passingMichael Jordan for ninth most all-time.[60] On March 13, Young scored 33 of his 47 points in the first half in a 131–128 win over theIndiana Pacers.[61] The next day, Young registered 46 points, 6 rebounds and 12 assists in a 122–113 win over the Trail Blazers, becoming the first player in the NBA this season to score 40-plus on back-to-back nights and the first to do so sinceBradley Beal in February 2020.[62] On March 22, Young scored 45 points and delivered 8 assists in a 117–111 win over theNew York Knicks at theMadison Square Garden.[63] At the conclusion of the regular season, Young became the second player in NBA history to lead the league in total points and assists in a season, joiningTiny Archibald.[64]
On April 15, during the Hawks' 107–101 play-in tournament win over theCleveland Cavaliers to secure the No. 8 seed in the2022 NBA playoffs, Young logged 38 points and 9 assists. He scored 32 of his points in the second half.[65] In Game 1 of the first round against theMiami Heat, Young scored a career playoff-low 8 points on 1-for-12 shooting (0-for-7 from three-point range) and had more turnovers (six) than assists (four). His 8.3% shooting was tied for the worst field goal percentage of his career.[66] The Hawks would go on to lose to the Heat in five games.[67]
As Young entered his fifth NBA season, the Atlanta Hawks decided to pull off a trade receivingDejounte Murray of theSan Antonio Spurs in the process.[68] The trade improved the Hawks' defense and reduced Young's offensive burden.[69][70] His season began on October 19, 2022, against theHouston Rockets. In his first game, he put up 23 points and 13 assists. They went on to win that game 117–107 where his newly acquired teammate played his defensive role well racking up 5 steals. Five games later in the season, Young put up 42 points in a 115–123 loss against theMilwaukee Bucks.[71] On November 25, Young scored a season-high 44 points in a 128–122 loss against the Houston Rockets.[72]
On February 26, 2023, Young put up 34 points, eight assists, two steals and a buzzer-beating, game-winning jumpshot in a 129–127 win over theBrooklyn Nets.[73] On April 7, Young scored 27 points and set a then-career-high 20 assists in 136–131 overtime loss against thePhiladelphia 76ers.[74] In Game 3 of the Hawks' first-round playoff series against theBoston Celtics, Young put up 32 points, six rebounds, nine assists, one steal and two blocks in a 130–122 win. He joinedDejounte Murray as the first pair of Hawks teammates to each put up at least 25 points, five rebounds and five assists in a playoff game sinceLenny Wilkens andBill Bridges in 1966.[75] In Game 5 of the Hawks' first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics, Young put up 38 points and 13 assists alongside a game-winning three-pointer in a 119–117 win.[76] Atlanta would go on to lose to Boston in six games despite Young's 30-point and 10-assist outing in the 128–120 close-out loss in Game 6.[77]
On December 23, 2023, Young recorded 30 points and 13 assists in a 125–119 loss against theMemphis Grizzlies. It was his seventh consecutive game with at least 30 points and 10 assists, tyingOscar Robertson for the longest such streak in NBA history. Robertson set the record from December 1964 to January 1965.[78] On November 30, 2023, Young scored a season-high 45 points with 14 assists in a 147–145 win against theSan Antonio Spurs.[79]
On February 6, 2024, Young was named to his thirdAll-Star team, first since the2021–22 NBA season, as an injury replacement forJulius Randle.[80] On February 15, Young made his 1,051st career three-pointer to surpassMookie Blaylock for the most three-pointers made in Hawks franchise history in a 122–99 loss to theCharlotte Hornets.[81]
On October 23, 2024, in the Hawks' season-opener, Young recorded 30 points, 12 assists and five rebounds in a 120–116 win over theBrooklyn Nets.[82] In the next game on October 25, Young had 38 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds and four steals in a 125–120 win over theCharlotte Hornets. He joinedOscar Robertson as the only players in NBA history to have back-to-back games with at least 30 points and 10 assists to start a season.[83] On November 27, he had 20 points and a career-high 22 assists in a 135–124 win over theCleveland Cavaliers.[84] On December 6, Young put up 31 points and 20 assists, alongside a game-winning three-pointer, in a 134–132 overtime win over theLos Angeles Lakers. He became the first player in NBA history to have a game with 30-plus points, 20-plus assists and 5-plus three-pointers. Young also became the 11th player in NBA history to have a game with 30 points and 20 assists.[85][86]
On January 7, 2025, seconds afterCollin Sexton made a game-tying three, Young made a half-court game-winning three-point heave at the buzzer to lift Atlanta over theUtah Jazz 124–121 and cap off a 24-point, 20-assist performance. It was his third 20–20 game of the season. He became the first player to record that many in a season sinceJohn Stockton in 1989–90.[87] On January 14, Young scored a season-high 43 points in a 122–117 win over thePhoenix Suns.[88] Young finished the season leading the NBA in assists per game with a career-high 11.6 and also set a franchise record for total assists in a season with 880.[89]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| * | Led the league |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | Atlanta | 81 | 81 | 30.9 | .418 | .324 | .829 | 3.7 | 8.1 | .9 | .2 | 19.1 |
| 2019–20 | Atlanta | 60 | 60 | 35.3 | .437 | .361 | .860 | 4.3 | 9.3 | 1.1 | .1 | 29.6 |
| 2020–21 | Atlanta | 63 | 63 | 33.7 | .438 | .343 | .886 | 3.9 | 9.4 | .8 | .2 | 25.3 |
| 2021–22 | Atlanta | 76 | 76 | 34.9 | .460 | .382 | .904 | 3.7 | 9.7 | .9 | .1 | 28.4 |
| 2022–23 | Atlanta | 73 | 73 | 34.8 | .429 | .335 | .886 | 3.0 | 10.2 | 1.1 | .1 | 26.2 |
| 2023–24 | Atlanta | 54 | 54 | 36.0 | .430 | .373 | .855 | 2.8 | 10.8 | 1.3 | .2 | 25.7 |
| 2024–25 | Atlanta | 76 | 76 | 36.0 | .411 | .340 | .875 | 3.1 | 11.6* | 1.2 | .2 | 24.2 |
| Career | 483 | 483 | 34.4 | .433 | .352 | .873 | 3.5 | 9.8 | 1.0 | .2 | 25.3 | |
| All-Star | 4 | 2 | 15.1 | .382 | .273 | — | 2.5 | 8.5 | .5 | .0 | 8.0 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Atlanta | 16 | 16 | 37.7 | .418 | .313 | .866 | 2.8 | 9.5 | 1.3 | .0 | 28.8 |
| 2022 | Atlanta | 5 | 5 | 37.3 | .319 | .184 | .788 | 5.0 | 6.0 | .6 | .0 | 15.4 |
| 2023 | Atlanta | 6 | 6 | 38.3 | .403 | .333 | .860 | 3.7 | 10.2 | 1.7 | .7 | 29.2 |
| Career | 27 | 27 | 37.8 | .402 | .297 | .852 | 3.4 | 9.0 | 1.2 | .1 | 26.4 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | Oklahoma | 32 | 32 | 35.4 | .423 | .361 | .861 | 3.9 | 8.7* | 1.7 | .3 | 27.4* |
Young married his longtime partner, Shelby Miller, in July 2023.[90][91] Young and Miller had a son in June 2022.[91][92] The couple's second child was born in November 2023.[93] Young is aChristian.[94]
Young was featured in the second season of theYoung Hollywood original docu-seriesRookie on the Rise. The series followed Young during his first year in the NBA.[95]
In August 2019, Young was named an Honorary Board Member at The Children's Center Rehabilitation Hospital inOklahoma City.[96] In November 2023, he had a street named after him, Trae Young Drive, outside the Young Family Athletic Center in his hometown.[97]
On March 31, 2025, Young joined his alma mater, theUniversity of Oklahoma, as the team's assistant general manager.[98]
