Sitting on the ground, Trae Young proudly shows six fingers. This is because the referees have just whistled LaMelo Ball's sixth foul, for a moving screen on the Hawks leader, delighted with the exclusion of his opponent…
There are 3 minutes and 33 seconds left to play in this duel between Atlanta and Charlotte, and Quin Snyder's players are at +7 (114-107). The exit of the main opposing offensive threat, LaMelo Ball having compiled 34 points at 10/20 shooting including 9/14 at 3-points, will thus validate this second success in two outings for the Hawks.
“If you don’t know me, you should know that I’m one of the smartest players in this league” replies Trae Young when asked if he knew LaMelo Ball had five fouls. “I know when guys have one or five mistakes. I know a lot of things that are happening on the ground…”
And he knows that it is necessary to attack the main opposing threats when they are on the verge of expulsion.
“A lot of good, intelligent players do that. When you see a guy who is used so much by his team, and who has such an impact on his team… That's why I like to see opponents attack me like that. You want to attack the guy who has the ball in his hands a lot, who creates a lot of things. You want to make him work on defense. He had five fouls and it's smart to keep attacking him. I knew he was going to set screens so I tried to provoke him to call a moving screen. And he did it. »
| Trae Young | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2018-19 | ATL | 81 | 31 | 41.8 | 32.4 | 82.9 | 0.8 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 8.1 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 3.8 | 0.2 | 19.1 |
| 2019-20 | ATL | 60 | 35 | 43.7 | 36.1 | 86.0 | 0.5 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 9.3 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 4.8 | 0.1 | 29.6 |
| 2020-21 | ATL | 63 | 34 | 43.8 | 34.3 | 88.6 | 0.6 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 9.4 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 4.1 | 0.2 | 25.3 |
| 2021-22 | ATL | 76 | 35 | 46.0 | 38.2 | 90.4 | 0.7 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 9.7 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 4.0 | 0.1 | 28.4 |
| 2022-23 | ATL | 73 | 35 | 42.9 | 33.5 | 88.6 | 0.8 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 10.2 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 4.1 | 0.1 | 26.2 |
| 2023-24 | ATL | 54 | 36 | 43.0 | 37.3 | 85.5 | 0.4 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 10.8 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 4.4 | 0.2 | 25.7 |
| 2024-25 | ATL | 2 | 39 | 45.0 | 35.0 | 86.2 | 2.0 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 11.0 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 5.0 | 0.5 | 34.0 |
| Total | 409 | 34 | 43.7 | 35.5 | 87.3 | 0.7 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 9.5 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 4.2 | 0.2 | 25.5 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
