ATLANTA — It took less than two NBA seasons for Trae Young to prove that he’s one of the best basketball players in the world. Young’s reputation has fallen even faster.
A year after being voted All-NBA, Young isn’t even an All-Star. His standing as an elite NBA player has taken a hit because he’s not having the same impact on winning, and his leadership ability is an open question. I’m sure Young’s ego is bruised by not being selected to play in Sunday’s All-Star Game in Utah, but individual accolades don’t really matter.
Ultimately, people will judge Young for how much he wins for the franchise that acquired him when he was the No. 5 pick in the 2020 draft. That’s to be determined, but there are diminishing returns in Year 5.
