NBA Hall of Famer Grant Hill texted Atlanta Hawks rookie point guard Trae Young earlier in the season and told the youngster to not give up on the Rookie of the Year race.

Hill, who is now a co-owner of the Hawks, told Young to go for the Rookie of the Year award despite Dallas Mavericks point-forward Luka Doncic getting all the hype.

“Periodically, I would send him text messages and words of encouragement,” Hill told Jeff Zillgitt of USA TODAY Sports. “I didn’t sit down and talk to him, but I said, ‘Don’t concede Rookie of the Year. Don’t give up. There’s a lot more basketball to play. Do what your coaches are telling you and play the right way. It’s OK to go for it. It’s not a selfish thing.’ I used the Jason Kidd example.”

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Grant Hill and Jason Kidd were co-Rookie of the Year winners back in 1995.

After getting off to a slow start this season, Trae Young has been fantastic and is closing the gap on Doncic. The Hawks' floor general is averaging 19.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game while shooting 41.9 percent from the field, 32.7 percent from beyond the arc, and 82.8 percent from the free-throw line.

Even if he doesn't win the award, Young has a really bright future with the Hawks.