NBA: Players with the most to prove on each team for 2019-20

Atlanta Hawks: Trae Young

Trae Young was probably the most tantalizing prospect of the 2018 NBA Draft with many questions that came with little assurance of any answers.

Luckily for the Atlanta Hawks, their draft-night faith in the point guard was validated during a phenomenal rookie season that saw Young average 19.1 points and 8.1 assists per game.

He was named to the All-Rookie First Team and made up tremendous ground on a Rookie of the Year race many had assumed was all but locked up by Luka Doncic. It was quite the first act from Young but now is when the real challenge begins.

After being a pleasant surprise during his inaugural run, Young will now be at the top of scouting reports around the league. He’ll face more double teams and his frail frame will be put to the test at both ends.

His counting numbers were superb, but his percentages — 41.8 from the field and 32.4 from distance — and carelessness with the basketball leave plenty to be desired.

The Hawks are building something special down in Atlanta with several highly talented youngsters who have only scratched the surface. At the heart of their rebuild is Young, who has to become the franchise guy capable of leading this team into the postseason and beyond.

Some are hopeful for a playoff push this season, but that still seems too far out of reach at the moment. The coming season is still about development, which for Young entails showing the NBA world that his future is as bright as his rookie numbers would suggest.