Trae Young returned to State Farm Arena for the first time since his trade to Washington, expressing his deep appreciation for the fans of Atlanta. “I just wanted the Hawks fans to know how much I love and appreciate them,” Young said before tipoff on Tuesday. Josh Robbins from The Athletics.
The All-Star point guard reflected on his journey in Atlanta, recalling his draft night and the trade that launched his career. “I still found a way to make a name for myself, make a name for my team and put this city on the map where people were talking about us. You can’t do that without the fans,” he said.
Young recognized the loyalty of supporters during difficult seasons. “The fans have shown us so much love over the years when we were in trouble. It felt like there was still a lot of love. So I have so much love for this city and these fans,” he added.
He described the return as a unique experience, noting the emotional weight of revisiting the arena. “It’s been crazy, it’s been different. Everything, to be honest, I’ve been trying to take in everything since I’ve been back, just the new experiences and stuff like that, which I’m obviously not used to. It’s super unique and something I’ve been thinking about for the last few weeks,” Young said.
Atlanta’s front office, led by GM Onsi Saleh, emphasized long-term flexibility and capital accumulation, creating $35 million in cap space and securing multiple second-round picks. Despite a 1-3 record after the trades, the Hawks remain focused on building for the future.
The Hawks currently sit ninth in the Eastern Conference with a 27-31 record and have the most favorable 2026 first-round pick after a five-way trade.
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