Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young might be small in stature, but head coach Nate McMillan says his presence is the size of a mountain.
McMillan praised Young's cold-blooded mindset and ability to stay the course even in the midst of individual struggles. He said the Hawks star has an infectious confidence about him, giving off real Ivan Drago vibes with his stoned-faced attitutde:
“The thing about Trae is, he doesn't show weakness,” McMillan said, via ESPN's Jackie MacMullan. “Sure, he struggled with his shot, but he's convinced the next one will go in. So am I.”
Some might interpret that statement as Young being arrogant or cocky. However, McMillan said “Ice Trae” has developed more of a trust for his Hawks teammates and understands when to ride the hot hand. He doesn't prioritize scoring above making the right basketball play:
Article Continues Below“[In Game 7] against Philly, Kevin [Huerter] had it going, and Trae understood that down the stretch we needed to keep Kevin involved,” McMillan said, via MacMullan. “He has really gotten better at trusting his teammates and understanding they can do some things too.”
The Hawks head coach explained Young has to set up the offense with respect to the options giving Atlanta the best chance to win. On Wednesday night, he was the team's best option.
Young poured in 48 points in a Game 1 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. He routinely created separation off the dribble and constantly drew extra defenders, also dishing out 11 assists for the contest.
There seems to be an unwavering sense of camaraderie between Young and McMillan, one the Hawks will likely hope can lead them to the NBA Finals.