THE ATHLETIC DATE: 05/24/2021

‘It’s quiet as f— in here:’ How Trae Young silenced his haters, Spike Lee and Madison Square Garden

By: Chris Kirschner https://theathletic.com/2608641/2021/05/24/how-trae-young-silenced-his-haters-spike-lee-and- madison-square-garden/

Trae Young feeds off negative energy. He’s been doing this on every level since middle school. When he was in eighth grade, Young had to convince his father, Rayford, to let him attend a Future150 Elite 24 camp that featured the best players in his grade. Future top-10 pick Wendell Carter Jr. was the main attraction, and the top players who were hand-selected to be there would have their registration fees covered.

Young’s family had to pay their own way to get there. He wasn’t on anyone’s radar. He was about 5- foot-8 and 130 pounds. Young ended up winning MVP of the camp.

His AAU coach, Rodney Perry, realized quickly that the best way to motivate his guard was to get under his skin. During a poor stretch for Young in a Nike EYBL tournament, where he shot 5-of-30 and had six turnovers, Perry told him that he needed to be more like then-elite prospect Quade Green. Perry never said Green was better — just play more in control like Green.

That set off Young. The next day, he shouted to Perry after every he racked up in their game. His team ended up winning, and Young and Perry shared a laugh afterward about his internal motivation to prove how he was better than Green.

In college, State fans held up pictures of birds inside the arena because they found out he’s afraid of them. At Texas Tech, his dad’s alma mater, the fans yelled “F— you, Trae Young!” as loudly as they could.

He was labeled a bust after his first Summer League shot — an airball. Young’s confidence never wavered, even when others would be the first in line to try to tear him down.

So in his first playoff game Sunday night when many of the 15,000 fans were chanting “F— Trae Young!” inside Madison Square Garden, it was nothing but proof of his NBA stardom.

“I’ve always looked at it as I’m doing something right if I’m affecting them with my play that much that they hate me that much,” Young said. “I’m obviously doing something right. I just have to let my play do the talking. At the end of the day, fans can only talk. They can’t guard me. They’re not out there playing. For me, it’s just a part of the game. I’m glad fans are back. I’m glad MSG was rocking tonight.”

A reporter asked him if he could actually hear the profanities raining down from the rafters or if he was so locked in that he didn’t notice. Of course, he heard it. The noise was deafening.

“Yeah, I mean, you didn’t hear it? It was mumbled? You didn’t hear it?” Young joked. “I heard it. I heard it. It is what it is. The Knicks haven’t been in the playoffs in a long time. We haven’t been in the playoffs. It’s important for both teams. It’s not just a regular game for either team. I wasn’t surprised on how loud it was or the things they were saying. It’s the playoffs.” The noise has never gotten under his skin though, but he has a permanent reminder of the naysayers on his right forearm, a tattoo that reads ‘Always Remember’ in cursive. With Game 1 tied and under 10 seconds to go in the fourth quarter, Young drove right past Frank Ntilikina, who was in the game to stop him, got in the paint and hit a floater over the Knicks defenders for the winning points in the Hawks’ 107-105 win.

That’s too simple of a breakdown to describe the gravitas of the moment. Before Young crossed half court, he saw John Collins coming to set a screen on Ntilikina. Young waved him off immediately.

We saw Young do this before in one of his most iconic plays in his young career. Two years ago, LaMarcus Aldridge switched on to Young late in the fourth quarter with the Hawks clinging to a narrow lead when he waved off a potential screen and crossed up Aldridge twice before firing a perfect pass.

Young hit the shot Sunday night and stormed down the court with his finger over his mouth as he yelled, ‘It’s quiet as f— in here.’

“I remembered at the beginning of the game when they were yelling it throughout the game,” Young said. “As I hit the floater, it just felt like everyone got quiet. I was waiting for them F-you chants again.”

Knicks superfan Spike Lee was hopping around the court early in the game but was left staring blankly with his hands on both of his hips. Madison Square Garden has built villains over the past decades. Michael Jordan. Reggie Miller. Young is looking to place his name on the pantheon of the most-hated players in MSG. He relishes that.

“Mhmm. Of course,” Young said. “I definitely know the history of players coming in here and being hated. Like I said, I take it as a compliment, to be honest with you. I’m obviously doing something right if you hate me this much. I just embrace it and focus on my team to help them win. At the end of the day, we’ll get the last laugh if we do that.”

Young became the second player in NBA history with at least 30 points, 10 assists and five rebounds in his postseason debut, according to Basketball-Reference — joining LeBron James.

It wasn’t just the game-winning shot that was impressive but the manner in which he carried himself and the Hawks throughout the game. He was in total control. He had only two turnovers. He got to the free-throw line for the first time with 6:43 left in the fourth quarter. He didn’t get frustrated about not receiving calls he normally gets during the regular season. He was a maestro in the pick-and-roll, and the Knicks were struggling to stop him. According to Synergy Sports, Young created 40 points out of the pick-and-roll.

Young was the best player on the floor Sunday night, and it showed with the Hawks winning on the road. In the past week, he took some time to reflect on his journey to his first playoff series. Hawks guard spoke with him this week about the moment, and Hawks coach Nate McMillan said he wanted to unleash his confidence on the floor and not let the environment get to him.

“I don’t want to take his fire and instincts away,” McMillan said. “We talked about blocking out the noise and play your game, play with confidence. Have fun out there but understand you have to control tempo for us. It’s something he has to learn to do in an environment like this at this time of the season. He missed a couple of shots early in that fourth quarter, but he’s a confident kid, and that last shot he took out there he made it. Play your game and I’ll coach you.” It is just one game, and you have to expect the Knicks will make adjustments to limit Young for the rest of the series. spoke afterward and already mentioned how New York “could have done a couple of things” to slow him down but didn’t want to divulge the team’s strategy. The same goes for Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, who was displeased and didn’t want to discuss how they defended Young in the pick-and-roll. Young and the Hawks should expect major changes in Game 2, otherwise the Knicks are in trouble. Young could have driven in the paint almost every play if he really wanted to; that likely won’t be the case moving forward as the Knicks were one of the best defensive teams in the regular season.

But what we learned after Game 1 is the Hawks have a special talent in Young. The best players in the NBA deliver in the biggest moments on the biggest stages. They are unflappable. Young was that on Sunday. It bodes well for his and the Hawks’ future because he proved that he belongs in the discussion with today’s greats.

“I’m sure he’s dreamed of moments like that,” Williams said. “Tie ball game, Madison Square Garden, with an opportunity to win the game. I just told him, don’t pass the ball. That was my advice. You trick yourself into thinking you’ve got to make a (pass) play. Man, go win the basketball game. This is your team. These guys have put the franchise on your shoulders, as well as the other young guys. You’re the point (guard), go win the basketball game.”

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