The scoreboard hit hard on Friday night, with the Hawks topping the Washington Wizards 139-132, marking another loss for Trae Young and his squad. Young dropped 23 points and dished out 10 assists, but let’s be real, a season-high eight turnovers in a homecoming game? That stings, especially when your team loses both ends of a home-and-home series against your former club.
“Different” Doesn’t Mean Winning
Before tipoff, Young, sporting a Wizards jersey, made his way to the corner of the court to collect himself. Then, he went straight to Hawks coach Quin Snyder for a pregame hug. After the game, he called the experience “different” and “cool.” You could feel the emotion there. He’d missed the chance to chat with Snyder back in Washington, so making sure he connected with his former coach, who he has a special relationship with, was clearly important. But for all the feelings, the bottom line is the Wizards walked away with another L.
A Muted Welcome for an Atlanta Legend
It’s wild to think about, but Young was the Hawks’ all-time leader in assists and three-pointers, a four-time All-Star in over seven seasons before the trade in January that sent him to Washington for Corey Kispert and C.J. McCollum. He was back in Atlanta last year after the trade, but a knee injury kept him on the bench, watching as the team played a tribute video during a second-quarter timeout. He even made a heart with his hands for the fans who cheered. This Friday, though, he was healthy and ready to play. But the reception? It was mostly muted, with only a few scattered cheers when he was introduced. Young said he’ll always remember this first night in an opposing jersey, knowing it won’t feel like this every time. You don’t get a “first” often, right?
Unselfish Play Needs Wins to Matter
Wizards coach Brian Keefe had nothing but praise for Young before the game, highlighting his unselfishness. Keefe said Young “fully embraced the group” and is “trying to make each one of these guys better and put us in good positions.” And honestly, with Young leading the entire NBA in assists coming into Friday’s game, averaging 9.3 per game, you can see why Keefe feels that way. But those eight turnovers against his old team, combined with the loss, show there’s still a gap between individual effort and team success. The Wizards need to figure out how to translate Young’s talent and leadership into actual wins, especially if they’re going to compete.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply