NBA: Ranking all 30 starting point guards for 2018-19

Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images /
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Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images /

28. Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks

Trae Young is an NBA rookie, and rookies always struggle when they’re thrust into the starting role from day one — no matter how good they were in college. Young also has the distinct honor of playing with the least amount of talent in the association, which will make his job even harder.

Throw in the designation of being a top-five pick that the Atlanta Hawks traded down for — when Luka Doncic was still on the board, no less — and there will be plenty of attention drawn to his every turnover, missed 3 and defensive lapse. NBA Summer League was just an appetizer on that front.

However, he’s easily the most exciting piece to this young core, and because of the severe lack of established players around him, he’ll be given more of a pass for his shortcomings. Young wasn’t great in Las Vegas, shooting just 38.3 percent from the field, but his 17.0 points and 6.8 assists per game were enough for All-Summer League Second Team honors. Plus, what can we say? We don’t want to see a top-five pick ranked as the NBA’s worst starting point guard.