Trae Young appreciates the love from his fans and the city of Atlanta. But the Hawks point guard has appreciation for those who came before him.
NBA reporter Ben Stinar claimed he overheard fans at an Atlanta-area Chipotle say Young is the âbest thing to happen to the Hawks.â Stinar then took it a step forward, claiming the city of Atlanta has never had an âiconâ like Young to rally behind.
Ice Trae didn't agree with that assessment:
Always appreciate the support, but this ainât it my boy. #AlwaysPayHomageToTheGreats https://t.co/BfSq6H9x4I
â Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) April 27, 2021
There is no doubt Young is already establishing himself as a franchise centerpiece and, should he remain in Atlanta, likely a future Hawks great.
But saying he is the most iconic figure in the city's history is totally asinine.
Article Continues BelowFor starters, there are more iconic figures in Hawks history. Stinar probably should have paid homage to Dominique Wilkins, though it feels like Nique is increasingly becoming one of the most underappreciated players in NBA history.
Other Atlanta franchises have had athletes who transcended their sport. That âonlyâ includes the late Hank Aaron, one of the greatest baseball players ever and a guy who overcame tremendous adversity as he chased what was then Babe Ruth's all-time home run record.
Also, did Stinar just totally forget Martin Luther King Jr. is an Atlanta native? He's only one of the most influential figures in American history.
Young is having another strong season for a Hawks team that finds itself in the playoff hunt for the first time in years. The point guard is averaging 25.3 points, 9.6 assists and 3.9 rebounds for the 34-28 Hawks, who are battling for the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference. Atlanta is currently fifth, but the fourth-seeded New York Knicks are also 34-28.
As good as Trae Young is, he acknowledges the outlandishness of Stinar's take and knows he has a long way to go to be truly considered an Atlanta icon.