Trae Young is undoubtedly a star in the making. At any point in time, he could be the next big thing in the NBA. He already ranks among the top point guards in the league offensively and every game he manages to prove it right, be it with his incredible range, insane dribble moves, or battles with defenders.
Last night, he wasn’t any less spectacular either helping the Atlanta Hawks get a good victory. The Brooklyn Nets were stunned by a surprise basket from Trae Young. With 5 seconds left on the shot clock, the former All-Star dribbled it out past the half-court mark and into the paint almost. Stopping at the free-throw line, he hesitated and shot the ball just in time. A game that was meant to go to overtime abruptly ended with an insane hail Mary
Did Trae Young travel before the buzzer-beater?
Whatever Trae Young pulled off last night was not the first time he had done it in his career. There have been several instances that prove he is one of the most clutch players alive right now. But as the sport of basketball is very extremely contact based, there are a set of rules that apply to it as well. And when one travels, the basketball can get waived off.
This was an issue everybody was worried about when the Hawks star nailed the buzzer-beater. It almost seemed a little too easy for the position that he was in before taking the shot. Meaning, he would’ve had to adjust himself a little. And by that, he may have moved a little more than he thought he did. Fans were quick to identify the fault in his shot.
Travel
— Chris (@Christopher1526) February 26, 2023
@DevInTheLab travel
— Crizmatic (@Crizmat1c) February 26, 2023
After the shot fell in, a slow-motion replay of Trae Young was aired. This is how fans were able to spot the error. While taking the shot, Young’s pivot foot lifted off the ground and moved to his right. Only then he took the shot which was later counted by the referees, awarding a victory for the Hawks over the Nets.
This may have been one of the biggest robberies conducted in the history of the sport. The referees on one hand have been very careless this season, missing out on important calls and giving out the most lethargic of fouls. Right now, it may be too late for the officials to overturn the decision that was made. However, the Nets were clearly headed into overtime if the refs had to catch it.