Subscribe
Follow Us
Trae Young walked the talk.
The first round series against the Atlanta Hawks and the New York Knicks was replete with trash-talking, shoving, and in the case of Young, crowd-silencing. But when the smoke cleared on Wednesday evening, it was the Hawks who had the final say, eliminating the Knicks on the road in Game 5.
Young quickly became public enemy no. 1 in the Big Apple after his villainous antics in the first two games. Now, with yet another sterling performance at Madison Square Garden, it's crystal clear that Young gets fueled by hostile environments. He put up a game-high 36 points on top of four rebounds and nine assists to finish off the Knicks.
According to ESPN Statistics and Information, Young became only the second player in NBA Playoffs history after Michael Jordan to record three straight 30-point games at Madison Square Garden. Young exploded for 32 points in Game 1 and followed it up with 30 markers in Game 2.
Trae Young joins Michael Jordan as the only visiting players with 3 straight 30-point games at Madison Square Garden in the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/GAXjwMplNF
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 3, 2021
Young once again silenced the usually boisterous Knicks crowd in Game 5, dousing cold water every time Julius Randle and company tried to make a run. He has always played with a chip on his shoulder, and in their series-clinching win, the chip was as huge as the Statue of Liberty.
The 22-year-old jitterbug has shown no signs of being intimidated in his first appearance in the NBA Playoffs—just like Jordan. And he's expected to be even more fired up in the second round against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Michael Jordan has annihilated the Sixers before as well, so don't be surprised if Trae Young does too.
