The Atlanta Hawks have their (200) million dollar man, as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that All-Star point guard Trae Young has reached an agreement on a max rookie extension with the Hawks worth $207 million over five seasons.
Young has not only been responsible for revitalizing the Hawks franchise with his exceptional displays of talent, craftiness, showmanship but he’s embraced the culture and city of Atlanta like few before him have been able to do. Indeed, at this juncture, Young all but encapsulates what the Hawks hope to convey when they step on the floor.
Hard work and humility balanced by unflappable confidence.
After averaging 25.3 points and 9.4 assists per game on a true shooting percentage of 58.9 in the 2020-21 regular season, Young led the Hawks on a surprising run through the Eastern Conference Playoffs that saw them fall just two wins short of making a NBA Finals appearance.
Though Atlanta’s young core was perfectly supplemented by veterans on the roster and coaching staff by the time the postseason began, it was still Young’s heroics that allowed them to repeatedly exceed expectations.
Averaging 28.8 points, 9.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game in the postseason, Young left the court to many a standing ovation, with eight games of at least 30 points (including dropping 48 points against the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals).
Suffice it to say, Young is a preeminent talent for the Hawks; his max rookie extension was less a question of “if he would receive it” and more of “how soon could he sign his name on the dotted line?”
