Atlanta Hawks: Ranking all 5 starters for the 2021-22 season

Atlanta Hawks starters ranked: 1. PG Trae Young

Who else would it be? Despite his limitations, Trae Young is one of the best and brightest young players around the NBA, with the potential to be an all-time great in Atlanta.

Young actually saw his numbers slide a bit from his second season (when he made the All-Star Game) as the Hawks’ contributions picked up around him. He averaged 25.3 points and 9.4 assists per game, the latter a career high, on 34.3 percent shooting from three-point range.

One of the most important improvements Young made last season was at the free throw line. He was already a great free throw shooter, but last season, he hit 88.6 percent of his attempts, moving into elite status in the category. That’s important for a player who averages close to 10 attempts per game.

The biggest criticism of Young is his defensive game, which is still not good. But he made marginal gains last season, sporting a career-best 1.3 defensive win shares, the same total as his first two seasons combined. He also needs to cut down on turnovers, averaging more than 4.0 per game for the second straight season.

But this is Young’s team. It was never more clear than during the first-round series against the New York Knicks when he exploited the opponent’s defense and made it impossible for New York to keep up, while at the same time feuding with the crowd. His moxie and drive were on full display for a national audience.

Young’s ascendance isn’t written in the stone, but he’s set to be a star player for years to come. With that comes the title of best Hawks starter.