Some Atlanta Hawks players were surprised to learn of head coach Lloyd Pierce's dismissal on Monday. It is unlikely star point guard Trae Young was one of them.

Chris Kirschner, Sam Amick and David Aldridge had a lengthy piece in The Athletic detailing how a number of key players wanted a change on the bench, including Young.

The Athletic reported Young, as well as guys like John Collins and Cam Reddish, did not like the “tough love approach” Pierce utilized during his tenure as Hawks head coach. Support in Pierce waned over the time, to the point players were already suggesting they would least like to play for him:

The lack of trust in Pierce, from numerous players, started in his first season. For The Athletic’s anonymous NBA player poll in April 2019, when one Hawks player was asked which coach in the NBA would you not want to play for, he responded with, “Are we allowed to say the one we play for?”

One source said it is unclear when exactly Pierce lost the confidence of the Hawks locker room, but noted the inability to relate to the young players ultimately led to his dismissal:

“There’s no telling when he lost it,” the source said, via The Athletic. “He didn’t have support from many people. It came down to him not being able to manage egos. That’s what did him in, especially these young guys. It’s tough.”

Hawks assistant Nate McMillan has agreed to become interim head coach. His ability to build relationships with Atlanta's young players could be a major determinant in the Hawks' playoff quest.