After an unsuccessful comeback attempt, the Atlanta Hawks fell to the Detroit Pistons, 121-122. Atlanta is now 4-6, with only the Toronto Raptors (2-7) and Milwaukee Bucks (2-7) having more losses in the East. However, while the Hawks haven’t been able to get off to the start they wanted this season, the play of face of the franchise Trae Young was once again a bright spot.
The seven-year veteran recorded 35 points, 13 assists, and two steals with just two turnovers in 41 minutes. He had 10 points and seven assists in the fourth quarter alone in his valiant effort to lead the Hawks past the Pistons. Perhaps most impressively, he made 44.0 percent of his field goals and 50.0 percent of his threes, balancing volume with efficiency.
Hawks’ Trae Young Passes Joe Johnson On All-Time Scoring List
With Young’s 15th point, he was able to pass former Hawks fan favorite Joe Johnson for the sixth-most points in franchise history.
With his 15th point of the game, Trae Young (10,608 points, 417 games) passed Joe Johnson (10,606 points, 508 games) for the sixth-most points in franchise history.
— Hawks PR (@HawksPR) November 9, 2024
Young accomplishing the feat in 91 fewer games highlights his firepower, as Johnson is considered one of the top isolation players in NBA history. Though Johnson only scored 16.0 points per game in his 18-year NBA career, he averaged 21.7 points per game in his first five seasons with the Hawks. This includes a career-high 25.0 points per game in 2006-07, the first year he was named an All-Star.
With his 15th point of the game, Trae Young passed Joe Johnson for the sixth-most points in franchise history🥶😮💨#HawksHighlight pic.twitter.com/96PBEVKs4a
— Hawks On FanDuel Sports Network (@FanDuelSN_Hawks) November 9, 2024
To be fair, Johnson may be more beloved by the general NBA fan, perhaps in part because he played for seven teams. However, Young is probably already more popular than Johnson was with the Hawks franchise.
Both have had a penchant for heroic performances. Nonetheless, Young’s been more productive offensively.
With 30+ points and 10+ assists for an NBA-leading third time this season, Trae Young now owns 80 career 30-point, 10-assist outings – the fifth-most such games in NBA history:
Oscar Robertson: 230
James Harden: 102
LeBron James: 101
Russell Westbrook: 84
Trae Young: 80— Hawks PR (@HawksPR) October 31, 2024
So much so that his name’s in the company of Hall of Famers like Steve Nash and Jerry West.
Trae Young has recorded his 161st career 20-point/10-assist game and has tied Jerry West for the 12th-most in NBA history.
— Hawks PR (@HawksPR) November 4, 2024
Trae Young finished tonight’s victory with 23 points, 10 assists, six rebounds and two steals, marking his 162nd career game with 20+ points and 10+ assists, tied with Steve Nash for the 11th-most such games in NBA history.
— Hawks PR (@HawksPR) November 7, 2024
That may not be enough to get them where they want to be. Ultimately, basketball is a team sport, so they’ll need more than Young’s dominance. Still, with an elite offensive engine in place, Atlanta has at least one foundational piece.
Amazingly, it’s cornerstone who could go down as the best player in franchise history.
