{"id":160315,"date":"2025-09-25T14:03:47","date_gmt":"2025-09-25T18:03:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=160315"},"modified":"2025-09-25T14:03:47","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T18:03:47","slug":"trae-young-enters-next-season-extra-motivation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/09\/25\/trae-young-enters-next-season-extra-motivation\/","title":{"rendered":"Trae Young Enters Next Season With Extra Motivation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Trae Young<\/a>‘s name has floated around trade rumors<\/a> for several seasons. NBA reporters and analysts suspected the Atlanta Hawks could have parted ways with their star before the 2025-26 campaign. However, no move materialized. Instead, Atlanta acquired Kristaps Porzi\u0146\u0123is<\/a>, Nickeil Alexander-Walker<\/a>, and Luke Kennard<\/a> this summer to bolster its core.<\/p>\n

Young enters his eighth NBA season with high hopes, looking to lead the Hawks on a deep playoff run. The four-time All-Star also has a player option for the 2026-27 season and is eligible for a supermax contract extension if he makes an All-NBA team.<\/p>\n

Trae Young Enters Next Season With Extra Motivation<\/h2>\n

Young’s Best Chance to Make Another Deep Playoff Run<\/h3>\n

In an ESPN poll from August<\/a>, Young received a vote for the next superstar to ask for a trade. However, the Hawks’ moves this summer suggest they feel confident their superstar wants to win in Atlanta next season. Young expressed confidence<\/a> in his 2024-25 exit interview when asked if he felt he could win a championship with the Hawks.<\/p>\n

“Of course\u2026I\u2019ve won here before, I haven\u2019t won a championship but I\u2019ve achieved a lot of things here. I know what it takes. I definitely feel I can win here.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This is the deepest roster Young has played with since the Hawks’ 2021 Eastern Conference Finals appearance. Jalen Johnson<\/a> and Porzi\u0146\u0123is form more top-end scoring talent than John Collins<\/a> and Clint Capela<\/a>. Dyson Daniels<\/a> and Alexander-Walker form one of the top defensive duos in the league, whereas the 2020-21 squad did not have a premier perimeter stopper. Onyeka Okongwu<\/a> and Porzi\u0146\u0123is guarantee 48 minutes of great center play and could even share the court in a double-big lineup. Young knows the opportunity presented in front of him.<\/p>\n

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Trae Young says the Hawks are built to compete for a championship this year \ud83d\udc40 pic.twitter.com\/Z7YH9ebXxK<\/a><\/p>\n

— Ball Exclusives (@ballexclusives) September 10, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n