The Atlanta Hawks are just 2-4 to start the 2024-25 season, tied for 10th in the East.
While they could certainly be better, their record doesn’t quite reflect their play. Once again, Atlanta has been hampered by injuries, with Dyson Daniels, De’Andre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanovic missing multiple games. This has forced them to start rookie Zaccharie Risacher and toggle through their frontcourt options to fill in Hunter’s spot.
To be fair, multiple players —namely Risacher, David Roddy, Garrison Mathews, and Keaton Wallace —have had their moments. Roddy, Mathews, and Wallace —who wouldn’t have played nearly as much had the team been healthy —have been particularly consistent. This speaks not only to their talent, but Quin Snyder’s coaching.
Trae Young’s Change Of Approach Will Pay Off For Hawks
Still, it’s clear that the Hawks are outmatched from a talent standpoint most nights. That’s what makes the mindset of Trae Young all the more special. Though the knowledge of his scoring ability could’ve caused him to take a more aggressive approach, he’s been showing trust in his teammates. Him leading the NBA with 11.7 assists per game despite not having an established co-star is no coincidence.
His unselfishness has even caught the eye of Snyder, who praised the point guard after their loss to the Sacramento Kings.
Quin Snyder: “Everybody should get their pens out and start writing about Trae Young.”
Mentions his unselfishness, trust of teammates, management of the game, the charge he took in the 4th.
Praised his mental toughness.
“The guy was unbelievable.”
— Brad Rowland (@BTRowland) November 2, 2024
With that being said, while Young is a sensational scorer, his best asset may be his playmaking. The three-time All-Star has excellent court vision but can also make every pass. So, when he’s consistently focused on managing the game, he controls the offense as well as any player.
Most importantly, this maturing of his game will have a domino effect.
Leading By Example, Inspiring By The Sample
As the leader of the team, the Hawks will take their cues from Young, even if they don’t notice it. That’s the synergistic dynamic of his role, and one reason his intangibles became such a hot topic. With Atlanta’s face of the franchise playing selflessly at both ends, it helps establish the type of culture prided by organizations like the Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors, and San Antonio Spurs. In other words, Young is laying down the groundwork that has helped teams become champions and dynasties.
In the immediate future, Young is generating good looks for his teammates. These are reps that they’ll be able to build off of as they look for what works as a team and individually. They’re also confidence-builders, helping players trust the process and themselves.
Just think, Wallace is shooting 4-5 from three off passes from Young this season, per NBA.com. Mathews is shooting 10-13 from three off passes from Young. The carryover from shot to shot and game to game should only help those two perform well while the team waits for Daniels and Bogdanovic to return.
