A fully recovered Trae Young is vital for the Atlanta Hawks as they aim to overcome season-long injury setbacks and advance beyond the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament.
Young is optimistic about delivering his usual performance after participating in three end-of-season games.
Despite his minutes being limited due to a left pinkie ligament tear that kept him out for 23 games, he aims to play his regular minutes in Wednesday’s game against Chicago.
The Hawks head into the play-in tournament on a six-game losing streak, even with Young’s return. While he averaged 25.7 points in the regular season, his output was reduced to 14, 19, and 12 points in the warm-up games for the tournament.
Reflecting on Monday’s practice, Young expressed feeling much better and gaining confidence from his increased playing time, reaching 32 minutes in a loss against Indiana to close the regular season. In that game, he contributed 12 points and 11 assists.
With forward Saddiq Bey already sidelined due to a season-ending knee injury, the Hawks face additional challenges with forward Jalen Johnson and center Onyeka Okongwu also out for the play-in tournament.
Despite these setbacks, Coach Quin Snyder emphasizes the importance of readiness and high performance from the available players.
Johnson, known for his significant contributions with averages of 16.0 points and 8.7 rebounds, will be absent for at least three weeks due to a right ankle sprain.
Okongwu’s absence is also heavy, as he will miss at least four weeks following a non-surgical procedure to address inflammation in his left big toe. Okongwu typically contributes 10.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.
Remaining optimistic, Young maintains a positive mindset, emphasizing the team’s capability to win with the available players. He remains determined to give his best on the court and aims for success despite the challenges.
