Trae Young receives warm welcome in first game-day trip back to Atlanta since Wizards trade
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ATLANTA — Trae Young walked into State Farm Arena on Tuesday night through a door he once called home, but this time the All-Star guard was directed to the visiting locker room for the first time in his NBA career.
The 27-year-old returned to Atlanta for the first time since the Hawks sent him to the Washington Wizards in a blockbuster deal early in January. Young remains sidelined by a sprained right knee and a quadriceps contusion and has not played in nearly two months, so his appearance was limited to pre-game rehabilitation work and a seat on the Wizards’ bench.
“I’ve only been in the visiting locker room for concerts,” Young said with a laugh before tipoff. “It’s weird, but I’ll get used to it.” Asked whether he expects to suit up before the season ends, he replied, “I’m leaving it up to the doctors. The plan is going good so far. You never know.”
Young became the face of the Hawks after arriving in 2018, earning four All-Star selections and steering Atlanta to the 2021 Eastern Conference finals. The club never matched that postseason run, failing to advance past the first round in subsequent years. A sluggish start this season prompted the front office to move on, shipping Young to Washington for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert.
The guard said he harbors no resentment toward his former team. “I just want Hawks fans to know how much love and appreciation I had for them from day one,” he noted. “When you’ve been somewhere that long, sometimes it feels like your stay isn’t welcomed as much anymore. That’s life.”
Washington’s aggressive deadline strategy also delivered Anthony Davis, giving Young optimism about the franchise’s future alongside a likely high 2026 draft choice. “I’m excited about what we can build next season,” he said.
Hawks coach Quin Snyder offered reciprocal praise. “We’re very appreciative of what Trae has done for our team and our franchise,” Snyder told reporters. “We wish him well in this next phase of his career.”
Young hoped to play against Atlanta on this trip but continued his rehabilitation under the stands, stretching an elastic band as the game began. He emerged in time for a tribute video early in the second quarter, responding to a standing ovation by forming a heart with his hands and repeatedly mouthing “thank you.”
The Wizards and Hawks meet again in Atlanta on Thursday, but Young is unlikely to be cleared in time. “I wish I could play tonight,” he said. “It wasn’t in God’s plans. I’ll be back playing here a lot in the future.”
Source: ESPN
