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Trae Young: “All I wanted to do this season was prove that I can win.”

ATLANTA, GA - JULY 3: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks high-fives teammate Bogdan Bogdanovic #13 during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks during Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2021 NBA Playoffs on July 3, 2021 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)

Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young had much to say following the end of his first postseason. Despite falling short of the NBA Finals, the team leader echoed his confidence moving forward. He also delved into what he took away most from these playoffs.

“I feel like we’ll be back, and I meant it with my whole heart… This is hard. It’s not easy. You really have to go through it… what [Chris Paul] did and what he’s been through really helped the Suns team, and what this team has been through with the Bucks, they’ve been to this point a couple times. I know that feeling, they didn’t want to go home again. I think for us we’ve got that same feeling now, and it’s the same thing.”

Trae Young, Via espn.com

In the post-game interview, Young also discussed the difficulties surrounding his injury and the team’s future with coach Nate McMillan. Atlanta went down in game six of the Eastern Conference finals to the Milwaukee Bucks. Only the franchise’s third conference finals appearance this season proved to be the Hawks’ most successful since 1958.

Trae Young this postseason

After starting the season with a 14-20 record, few expected the Hawks to have risen to such great heights this year. Atlanta closed out the regular season, winning 27 of their last 38 games after McMillan took over for Lloyd Pierce.

The 2021 playoffs were what some would call a “coming-out party” for Trae Young. He led his team on a surprise run to the third round of the postseason. With averages of 28.8 points and 9.5 assists in 16 playoff games, Young established himself as a superstar in the NBA. Key highlights from his run include a game-winning lay-up in game one against the Knicks, a 39 point outing in game five against the 76ers, and a 48 point night against Milwaukee in game one of the conference finals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo0PaGC27dQ&ab_channel=ChazNBA

The Hawks took many people by surprise this go-around. However, next season they’ll have to prove themselves all over again. Confident as these players seem in their coach and themselves, the Hawks have a bright future ahead of them.

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