Trae Young has no intention to stop nutmegging opponents, Trevor Ariza on-court tackles be damned.
“That’s going to be in my game until I’m done,” a defiant Young told reporters Monday.
Trae says the move allows him to create space and is also “an energy play.”
Per The AJC:
“I use it to create space, I use it for my advantage,” Young said.
“(Ariza) can call it what (he wants)… it’s not to showboat, it’s flair and excitement. It’s basketball and entertainment … Ain’t gotta be serious 24/7. You can smile, you can have fun, you can engage with the crowd, you can flex, you can do whatever you want. Have fun with it.”
Young using his craftiness and handles to his advantage is not all that different from others using their physical size and strength to dunk on opponents, per Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce.
“He’s a 6-foot point guard, 6-foot-1 point guard, very crafty and creative,” Pierce said.
“He’s got to find unique ways to go by guys … Sometimes it’s quickness, sometimes it’s nutmeg. People weren’t complaining about (Shaquille O’Neal) dunking on them every single game. You’ve got to figure out how to stop it. But in the same regard, Trevor’s a vet. Trevor’s got pride. He did what he had to do.”
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