It’s fair to be disenchanted with the Hawks. They’re 13-12 with a bad defense and myriad health issues. But in the grand scheme of what Atlanta can still become this season, none of that should overshadow Trae Young, an increasingly elastic superstar whose muted evolution makes it easy to feel optimistic about their eventual turnaround.
For the first time in four years, Young is the overwhelming deep threat his reputation has long purported him to be, averaging a career-high six pull-up threes per game while hitting 39.3% of them. If both hold they’d be personal highs and inject adrenaline into a career that’s already enjoying a dizzy ascent.