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Atlanta Hawks: Evaluating Trae Young’s rookie season so far

By Christopher Jeter

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 31: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks is seen during the game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 31, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 31: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks is seen during the game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 31, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Hawks
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Rookie guard Trae Young has experienced his share of ups and downs this year, but he has given Atlanta Hawks fans plenty of reason for optimism.

Like most players selected in the top five of the NBA Draft, Atlanta Hawks rookie point guard Trae Young has dealt with the pressure of being the face of a struggling franchise.

Those burdens become even heavier considering the lazy Stephen Curry comparisons and how well Luka Doncic — the man the Hawks traded away to acquire Young in last June’s draft — has played.

Compared to Doncic — who appears to be the presumptive Rookie of the Year — Young has produced at a more scattershot level. He turns the ball over a lot (3.9 per game) and his 52.3 true shooting percentage is alarming.

Given his numbers over a 60-game sample, it would be understandable if many Hawks fans grew concerned that the franchise — one that once held the draft rights to Hall of Famers like Bill Russell and Pau Gasol before trading both respective big men away for lesser assets — once again made another blunder that hindered their long-term future.

But before you declare Young a bust, the former Oklahoma Sooner has shown glimpses of brilliance that should keep the fanbase enthused about the direction the team is going. Yes, Young has some obvious flaws in his game, but there is also a lot to like. Hopefully, this breakdown of Young’s game will paint a clearer picture of how good he is now and what he needs to work on going forward to turn this Atlanta team into a contender.

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