The Washington Wizards fans will finally get to see Trae Young in uniform. It has been a long time coming — nearly two months after the Wizards acquired the four-time all-star from Atlanta — but Young is slated to make his debut on Thursday against the Utah Jazz at home.
“Washington Wizards star Trae Young will make his team debut on Thursday against the Utah Jazz at home,” per Shams Charania of ESPN.
When Will Trae Young Make Debut For Wizards & What Does It Mean, Plus, Other Key Injury Updates
Young has only played in 10 games this year due to injuries. The 27-year-old guard appeared in the first five games for the Hawks, but suffered a sprained right MCL in the first quarter of that contest. He would miss 22 games before returning in mid-December.
Young played 20 minutes in his return on December 18. While the 27-year-old sat out Atlanta’s game on December 19, as it was the second of a back-to-back, he would play in the Hawks’ four subsequent games, though the lingering effects of the MCL sprain hampered him. To complicate things further, a quad bruise developed in December, leading to recurring discomfort and reduced availability.
Young hasn’t played since. Young was, of course, traded to the Wizards for Corey Kispert and CJ McCollum on January 9. Kispert and McCollum have played well for the Hawks, who are 13-9 since the trade. Meanwhile, the Wizards are 6-18 post-trade.
Young has struggled this year and will be on a minute restriction, perhaps for the rest of the season. T’he Theguard averages 19.3 points, 8.9 assists, and 2.6 turnovers in 28 minutes per contest. He has knocked down just 1.8 threes and produced three double-doubles with shooting splits of 41.5/30.5/86.3.
“Brian Keefe just said the expectation is that Trae Young will play 17 to 20 minutes when Young makes his Wizards debut,” The Athletic’s Josh Robbins tweeted last night.
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