Trae Young

 

Rayford Trae Young (born September 19, 1998) is an American professional basketball player for the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) and weighing 164 pounds (74 kg), Young has redefined the modern point guard position through his combination of limitless shooting range and elite playmaking. A four-time NBA All-Star and an All-NBA selection, he is widely regarded as one of the premier offensive engines in the league.

 

On January 7, 2026, Young was traded from the Atlanta Hawks to the Washington Wizards in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. Known by his moniker “Ice Trae,” he cultivated a reputation for being a “villain” in opposing arenas, most notably Madison Square Garden.

 

Early Life 

College Career 

 

Young was born in Lubbock, Texas, but grew up in Norman, Oklahoma. His father, Rayford Young, played college basketball at Texas Tech and professionally in Europe. At Norman North High School, Young averaged 42.6 points per game as a senior and was named a McDonald’s All-American.

 

Young chose to play for the University of Oklahoma. His lone collegiate season (2017–18) was historic—he became the first player in NCAA Division I history to lead the nation in both points (27.4) and assists (8.7) per game. He was named a consensus First-team All-American before declaring for the 2018 NBA Draft.

 

NBA Career

 

Atlanta Hawks (2018–2026)

 

On June 21, 2018, the Dallas Mavericks selected Young with the fifth overall pick but immediately traded him to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Luka Dončić and a future first-round selection.

 

Young’s rookie season started slowly, but he surged post-All-Star break to average nearly 25 points and 9 assists per game. In his sophomore campaign (2019–20), Young made the leap to superstardom, averaging 29.6 points and 9.3 assists, earning his first All-Star start at just 21 years old.

 

The defining moment of Young’s career occurred during the 2021 NBA Playoffs. Young hit a game-winning floater in Game 1 at Madison Square Garden and led the Hawks to a five-game series victory over the Knicks and a stunning seven-game upset of the #1-seeded Philadelphia 76ers. The Hawks reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2015, eventually falling to Milwaukee in six games. Young’s 48-point performance in Game 1 of the ECF established him as a cold-blooded playoff performer.

 

In the 2021–22 season, Young achieved a feat not seen since Nate “Tiny” Archibald in 1973: he led the NBA in both total points (2,155) and total assists (737). In 2022, the Hawks acquired Dejounte Murray to pair with Young, but the team struggled with defensive consistency. In early 2024, Young suffered a torn radial collateral ligament in his left hand that required surgery.

 

The 2025-26 season proved challenging. Young suffered a right MCL sprain that sidelined him for nearly two months. He returned in mid-December but managed just five more games before sustaining a quadriceps contusion. In 10 total games for Atlanta, Young averaged 19.3 points and 8.9 assists while shooting 41.5% from the field. The Hawks went 2-8 in games with Young and 15-13 without him.

Washington Wizards (2026–present)

 

On January 7, 2026, Young was traded to Washington in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. The trade reunited Young with Travis Schlenk, the Wizards executive who brought him to Atlanta in 2018.

 

Young has not yet made his Washington debut as of February 24, 2026, recovering from injuries sustained in December. On February 19, 2026, the Wizards announced that Young was making positive progress and would “ramp up” on-court activities. The Wizards have taken a cautious approach, with speculation that the team may prioritize draft positioning. Washington sits at 14-39, the second-worst record in the NBA.

 

Young is expected to debut in the final weeks of the season to develop chemistry with young teammates like Alex Sarr, Tre Johnson, and Kyshawn George. He has $95 million remaining on his deal through 2026-27, with a $48.97 million player option for next summer.

 

Young finished his Hawks tenure as the franchise’s all-time leader in three-pointers (1,295) and assists (4,837). In 493 career games with Atlanta over seven-plus seasons, he averaged 25.2 points with 9.8 assists per game.

 

Player Profile: Offensive Genius vs. Defensive Concerns

 

Young’s game is built on his elite gravity. Defenses must account for him as soon as he crosses half-court, which opens up lanes for his league-leading lob passes to big men. His floater is considered one of the most effective in the game, allowing him to score over taller rim protectors.

 

Defensively, Young has often been a target for opponents due to his size. However, he showed increased effort in playing passing lanes during his final season in Atlanta, and his clutch scoring remains a hallmark. He leads the league in deep three-pointers (30+ feet) made in the fourth quarter throughout his career.

Off-Court and Legacy

Off the court, Young is deeply involved in the Atlanta community. Through the Trae Young Family Foundation, he has focused on mental health awareness and providing resources for families in Oklahoma and Georgia. In 2020, he famously paid off over $1 million in medical debt for Atlanta residents.

 

Young has a massive endorsement deal with Adidas, having released several iterations of his signature shoe, the “Trae Young 1, 2, and 3.” He has expressed a desire to bring a championship to Washington to cement his legacy and revive both himself and the franchise.

 

References

External Links

* Trae Young on NBA.com

* Trae Young on Basketball-Reference.com