In the NBA’s highest-scoring game of the season, the Bulls and Atlanta Hawks put on the offensive performance of a lifetime. Hawks rookie PG Trae Young, specifically, showcased just why so many believe that the 2018 NBA Draft class may be one of the best in recent memory. With John Collins (19.5 PPG) out of the lineup for the Hawks, Young knew he was going to have to take on a bigger scoring role for head coach Lloyd Pierce. What he didn’t know was that Zach LaVine would go out and match him shot-for-shot.
But Young did not let his squad down without a fight and was extremely impressive in regulation alone, racking up 34 PTS and 11 AST while managing only 4 turnovers. He collected 6 of the Hawks 7 assists in the fourth, playing under control and leading Atlanta to a 40 PT period that sent the game to the first of what would be four OT periods.
And once OT started, it became even more of a LaVine-Young showdown, causing a long list of records to be broken and some truly special first time events to happen.
Young showed no fear when it came to big moments, and hit some daggers that were so nice, it is nowhere near blasphemous to call them MJ-like.
But the aesthetics of Young’s momentous shots were not the only thing he shared with the GOAT on Friday night.
Young’s remarkable run has put some serious pressure on Rookie of the Year voters. Mavericks wunderkind Luka Doncic--who has been a shoo-in for the award all season long--has taken his game up a notch post-All Star break, but nothing like Young.
In 5 post-All Star break games Trae is averaging 34.8 PPG and 10.4 APG while shooting a scorching hot 48.9 percent from the 3-point line. Only time will tell if Young’s end of season push will be enough to net him the ROY, but in adding his name onto lists with other names like Oscar Robertson, LeBron James, Iverson and of course Jordan, Young has done enough to prove that he is one of the elite rookies from what could end up being a historically good 2018 class.