Although Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks didn’t qualify for the NBA Playoffs, the All-Rookie First Team player still took in a few postseason games recently.
Young told 92.2 The Game in Atlanta this week that he traveled to Oklahoma City to watch Game 3 of the first round series between the Thunder and Portland Trail Blazers. He also went to Game 3 of the Rockets-Warriors series in Houston.
Young wanted to experience a true playoff atmosphere.
It’s definitely fuel to the fire that we are not there this year. But I want to be there next year to experience that. … I wanted to experience those playoff atmospheres before I got there.
Of course, Young is a native of Oklahoma City and grew up as a Thunder season ticket holder. He attended high school in Norman before playing one season at Oklahoma.
Young averaged 19.1 points, 8.1 assists and 3.7 assists in 81 games this season for the Hawks. On Tuesday, he was a unanimous selection for the All-Rookie First Team.
He credits Russell Westbrook for adding toughness to his game by watching him on the Thunder growing up. Young averaged 16.5 points and 9.5 assists in two games against OKC this season.
