Trae Young didn’t have to wait long to hear his name called in Thursday’s NBA Draft.
The star point guard from the University of Oklahoma was drafted 5th overall by the Dallas Mavericks, but was quickly traded to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for the No. 3 pick, Luka Doncic.
As a freshman at Oklahoma, Young became the only player in NCAA history to lead the nation in both points (27.4) and assists (8.7) in a single season. He also tied the NCAA single-game record for assists, with 22.
“I knew they were interested,” Young said after he was drafted. “I had a really good workout when I went to Atlanta. I had a great time visiting with the organization and the front office, and I loved spending time with Coach [Lloyd] Pierce and can’t wait to get out there, meet the fans and get ready to spend some time with my new teammates.”
Young has been compared to Stephen Curry for his shot-making ability from two to three feet from behind the three-point line. When his shot is going in, it forces the defense to respect his perimeter game. As a result, it gives him more options to either drive to the basket, or pass to his teammates for open shots.
If his one-year college resume wasn’t impressive enough, Young’s wardrobe turned heads as well. The future Hawks rookie wore a burgundy suit with shorts similar to past outfits of LeBron James and Draymond Green.

As he walked on the stage to shake Adam Silver’s hand, Young flashed the inside of his jacket. “THEY WILL KNOW YOUR NAME,” the slogan for the upcoming NBA 2K19 video game, was stitched on the inside.
Young is also featured in a promotional video for NBA 2K19. The video shares a personal conversation with the standout point guard as he looks back on his journey to the NBA Draft and he discusses his desire for the world to someday know his name as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
With Young set as the Hawks’ point guard for the foreseeable future, Dennis Schroder’s future in Atlanta could be in question. Both are good playmakers, but if Young can improve his efficiency and lower his turnovers, he has the potential to become a once in a generation player.