Atlanta Hawks: A look back at Trae Young’s historic rookie season

Taking a look back at Trae Young’s historic rookie season with the Atlanta Hawks, and why he deserves consideration for NBA Rookie of the Year

Despite not making in the playoffs this year, Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young had a historic rookie season this past year that warrants his consideration for the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award.

Trae Young stands out statistically even compared to past Rookie of the Year winners. Young finished the season joining Oscar Robertson and Damon Stoudamire as the only other rookies to average more than 18 points and 8 assists per game. Of the 67 former rookie of the year winners, only 14 of them have been 20 years old or younger. And only four players have been 19 years old or younger: Andrew Wiggins, Kyrie Irving, KD, and LeBron James.

Young’s ability to hit game-winning shots rivals current veteran superstars in the NBA. Trae Young, similar to Luka Doncic, put on a performance this season that we have seen from few rookies in NBA history. Young is playing 28 percent fewer minutes than LeBron James and 12 percent fewer minutes than KD.

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However, he shoots better from 3-point range than KD or LeBron did as a rookie and he averages more assists per game than LeBron James did as well.

Among 20-year-old former rookies of the year winners, Young is averaging more points per game than Karl-Anthony Towns, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, and Chris Webber. This is great company for any rookie to be compared to at the start of their career. He is also is averaging more assists than CP3 and has a better 3-point percentage than CP3 as well. And he plays roughly six fewer minutes per game than CP3 did as a rookie.

Trae Young this season also had five-straight games with 23-plus points and 8-plus assists. The only rookie in NBA history with a longer such streak is Oscar Robertson. Along with Oscar Robertson, Trae Young is the only rookie to have 35-point games that featured 10 or more assists. Trae Young is also the first rookie to have more than 1,400 points and more than 600 assists in the same season. Pretty impressive.

However, the most obvious comparison for Trae Young is to Stephen Curry.

In his final season at Davidson, Curry averaged 28.6 points and was the NCAA scoring leader. He was drafted 7th overall in the first round. At Oklahoma, Trae Young led the league in points and assists.

The Golden State Warriors had a record of 26-56 in Curry’s first year and had very little talent around him. The Hawks have 29 games this season.

Young in almost all statistical categories is outperforming Stephen Curry as a rookie and he is two years younger than when Curry entered the league. Fundamentally, Trae as rookie is a better passer and ball handler than Stephen Curry was a rookie. Young has also been able to average more points per game and be as effective while playing far fewer minutes than Curry could as a rookie.

Young, along with Damian Lillard, are the only players that rival Stephen Curry in his ability to hit deep 3-pointers.

Young is definitely not a bust and he arguably had the best regular season a rookie point guard has ever had since Oscar Robertson. Young should definitely be an asset for the Hawks moving forward. Trae Young is one of the most skilled and poised rookies in the history of basketball.