Trae Young at the age of 24 is of the most influential players in the NBA. Dallas Mavericks drafted Trae as the 5th overall pick in the NBA 2018 draft. Young then joined the Atlanta Hawks in a trade that saw Luka Doncic join the Mavericks. Since then Trae has been making headlines with his superb skill set and shooting. He is just 24 and his prime years are still ahead of him.
Young in his career with the Hawks has had a great impact and this season he is averaging 27.12 points and 9.64 assists per game. It is not his highest average since joining the Hawks, but his putting up such a performance only talks about his strength. The Hawks have a bitter rivalry with the New York Knicks, or so to say with the Hawks guard Trae.
“Trae Young owns the Knicks” pic.twitter.com/C8BxOlaetQ
— Alex B. (@KnicksCentral) December 8, 2022
Trae has averaged 27.3 points, 9 assists, and 3.5 rebounds in his 15 games against his bitter rivals. It’s however not a huge blow to the Knicks as they have a commanding 13-5 run against the Hawks. On that note, it raises a question, does the rivalry even stand with the Knicks crushing the Hawks?
Trae Young and the Hawks having a fake rivalry with the Knicks?
All things considered, the New York Knicks have a commanding lead in the number of games won since Trae joined the Hawks in 2018. The truth behind this unlikely rivalry can be traced back to last year. Trae managed to anger the New York Knicks fans in 2021 after eliminating them in round 1 of the playoffs. After sending the Knicks packing, he bowed facing the fans whilst standing on the Knicks logo.
TRAE YOUNG TAKES A BOW IN MSG AFTER ELIMINATING KNICKS. 🍿👀 pic.twitter.com/L6i5A0S65H
— House of Highlights (@HoHighlights) June 3, 2021
When comparing the stats of both the teams head-to-head, it becomes questionable. The New York-based team trumps the Hawks with a whopping 13-5 score in the regular season. In the playoffs, however, Atlanta edges the Knicks 4-1. Trae has played the Knicks 15 times in the regular season, out of which he has lost 11 times to them and won just 4 times against them. The fans who are well aware of the truth behind this rivalry have shown their amusement on Twitter.
If there was anyone that you can say legitimately “owns” the Knicks, it’s Ben Simmons and not Trae Young pic.twitter.com/Qu9eyYNPqx
— Alex B. (@KnicksCentral) December 8, 2022
Trae at The Garden the other night…😂😂😂🥶❄️☃️⛄️🧦🧊🧣🧤 pic.twitter.com/rpC6R11dnv
— Josh B. The Company Prez (@Josh_Burgs) December 9, 2022
He won the only four games that meant anything & lives rent free in Knicks fans heads
— count rackula (@drewdoe_) December 8, 2022
Doesn’t include what’s important – playoffs – where He waxed us so it’s more like 8 and 12. And Reggie Miller was 26-41 against Knicks but killed us in playoffs when it counted.
— Jay (@jboog11) December 8, 2022
And the clown had the audacity to wear King of Broadway on his sneakers.
— Gary ❤🖤💛 ❤🖤💚 (@BXGP228) December 8, 2022
In totality, Trae has faced the Knicks 20 times in his career so far, has won only 8 times, and has lost 12 times to them. In the last game between the Knicks and the Hawks on the 7th of December, 2022, Trae and the Hawks lost once again with a 113-89 score. Despite the losses, Trae has won against the Knicks in the playoffs, which may weigh more in his favor.
