In a concerning turn of events, Trae Young, the Atlanta Hawks’ star point guard, sustained a right knee sprain during the team’s recent game against the Brooklyn Nets. Late in the first quarter, came the defining incident. Mouhamed Gueye tumbled directly onto Young’s leg after being shoved by Noah Clowney. Young lingered in the game for several minutes, but eventually and reluctantly decided to walk away. His departure left many to worry about just how serious his injury could be.
Entering the matchup, Young was averaging 20.8 points per game and 9.5 assists per game. He is considered one of the best playmakers in football history. Last season, the 6’5” guard led the entire NBA in dimes with a career-high average of 11.6. The future Hawks coaches saw him as a linchpin piece in their stop-Irving strategy against Brooklyn. As the game played out, that surprise injury quickly clouded their huge win with concern.
Gueye was knocked off balance after Clowney shoved him. In his effort to get back under control, he unintentionally collided directly with Young, who was directly under the basket. Young went down to the floor, doubling over in visible agony. After an initial hesitation, he fought it and made his way to the bench under his own power when play next stopped for a timeout. With one possession left to play, Young subbed himself out of the game. He sprinted to the locker room for immediate further evaluation.
Despite initial hopes that he might return to action, the Hawks quickly ruled Young out for the remainder of the night. It’s an understatement to say that his absence from the court impacted the game. It raised some concern about if he’ll be ready for the next big matchups.
Young has been the centerpiece of the Hawks since he came into the league. Just last month, he celebrated his 27th birthday—and did more to add to that amazing legacy. A four-time All-Star, he has established himself as one of the game’s premier leaders and top runners on a perennial playoff contender.
In the end the Hawks are dancing at their joyous victory over the Nets! In the meantime, they’ll keep their fingers crossed about Young’s condition and anxiously await word from the team’s health professionals on his MRI results, which will show how serious the injury is. The team has made it clear that keeping their star’s health intact will be the most important thing for their title hopes this season.
Leave a Reply