Trae Young, the guy famous for hitting ridiculous shots from anywhere, is having a nightmare start to the season when it comes to his own scoring. He is shooting well under 40 percent from the field, barely over 30 percent from three, and his scoring isn’t living up to what we expect. But get this: the Wizards are 2-1, and Young is leading the *entire league* in assists.
The Shot That Won’t Fall
Young’s reputation as an impressive shot-maker definitely precedes him. We’ve seen him drop triple after triple, and he even has three seasons with more than 200 three-pointers made. But rocking the Wizards’ colors, his shot has just looked far less lively. He’s shooting a little over 36 percent on the year, which is a full seven percentage points below his career average! Even his 56.5 percent true shooting rate is only 0.5 percent higher than the league-average rate, according to Databallr. For a dude known as an accomplished shooter from range, that’s just a disappointing mark right now. The scoring simply hasn’t lived up to its billing.
The Unstoppable Playmaking That Keeps Washington Rolling
Here’s the wild part: despite his shot being ice cold, Young has been absolutely vital to Washington’s efforts as they try to climb up that Eastern Conference table. He’s leading the league in assists, dishing out a ridiculous 11.3 per game! That’s not just good, that’s elite distribution for a Wizards side that has serious hopes to surge into relevancy this 2026-27 season. Young ranks in the 100th percentile in points created, pouring in 47.7 per game, and in rim assists with 7.0. Plus, he’s keeping those turnover numbers unbelievably low, giving up the ball just 2.3 times per contest. His willingness to shoot from anywhere has always drawn in admirers, but it’s his playmaking that has truly proven valuable for Washington.
Look, his shot might be out in the tundra right now, but Young’s vision and passing are carrying this Wizards squad. With AJ Dybantsa still waiting to make his debut, Young’s ability to create for others is going to be absolutely crucial to unlock this team’s offensive potential and help them surge into relevancy this season. The scoring touch has to come back, but man, he’s still a wizard with the ball.
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.
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