Tensions have risen between Hawks star guard Trae Young and coach Nate McMillan, highlighted by a disagreement on Friday that led to Young choosing not to play against Denver on Friday, The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Sam Amick report.
According to Charania and Amick, Young and McMillan had a verbal exchange during the Hawks’ shootaround prior to the game. As Young received treatment on his right shoulder, McMillan asked him whether he would participate in the shootaround, then receive treatment during the walk-through and play against the Nuggets. Young told McMillan he wanted to miss the shootaround to focus on his treatment and decide later on whether he could play.
McMillan was unhappy Young didn’t participate in the shootaround and told Young he could either play off the bench that night or not show up to the arena. Young chose the latter, with the team officially ruling his absence due to right shoulder soreness.
The team didn’t take any disciplinary action against its franchise player. Young practiced fully on Sunday and will play on Monday against the Thunder.
McMillan on Sunday told reporters that it was a simple miscommunication between him and Young.
However, this has hardly been the only issue regarding McMillan and his players this season, according to The Athletic duo. The Hawks have held multiple team meetings already to resolve various conflicts.
For now, McMillan’s job appears safe. He signed a four-year contract to become the franchise’s full-time head coach after leading the Hawks to the conference finals as an interim coach in 2021. Both Young and McMillan are cognizant of the fact they’ll need to improve their relationship in order for the franchise to become a serious contender again.
In the meantime, Young’s leadership is under scrutiny since he also played a role in Lloyd Pierce’s dismissal, which led to McMillan replacing him. Young is in the first year of a five-year max extension.
The Hawks are looking to make a significant trade to improve their prospects of making a run. They’ve been shopping forward John Collins, who is currently sidelined with an ankle sprain. The Nets are among the teams who have expressed interest.
Trae is not going to fake it. He can a kiss a gm. Not a good move to go against the star player. Imo ……..
Unless he’s just being an ass
Eh… Easily replaced… He ain’t Steph…
Team would be just as good with Murray being the primary option. They could even get more touches to Collins who is under utilized in my opinion. Young scores 27 yeah, but takes a lot of shots…
Trae Young is a great offensive player. He’s a high volume scorer that is a defensive liability. The way he plays is very hard to win with. They will have to surround him around all very good and great defensive players to have success in the playoffs. Him and Nate McMillan have not got along at all. It’s going to cost Nate McMillan his job. Nate McMillan is extremely frustrated. He played with the best defensive Point Guard in the history of the NBA in Gary Payton. The Glove was great on that end!!! Then Nate McMillan was a great defensive Point Guard himself. So he believes solely in playing defense first. A Point Guard like Dejounte Murray is his style but he can’t enjoy coaching Trae Young at all.
Trae doesn’t write the rules. Nate is completely correct in every facet. Trae isn’t bigger than the team, and sitting out and taking the latter option shows a selfishness that he’s above all others. The team may be better off without him with his ‘ole defense anyway.
I personally like Trae Young because he’s a gamer that kind of got that Reggie Miller kind of approach to the game. It’s just being a defensive liability is hard. He’s the closest player to Steph Curry the NBA has to offer but he’s not because Steph Curry is highly efficient and knows how to play very good team defense. Trae Young is a high volume guy and a defensive liability. He needs to take a page out of Steph book and get more efficient and become a okay defender and play off the ball more. I want what’s best for Trae Young career but I’m not sure he do. If he keeps up doing what he doing he’s going to be known as a coach killer. The sad part about it is he’s getting rid of black coaches.
Hawks are dumb if they let nate go. I guarantee he’ll be picked up quickly if that’s the case. I hate the bulls but he’d be solid there.
I’ll take Shai & J-Dub for him straight up. OKC can keep their picks, bring home their local hero (signed/sealed/delivered for the next 5yrs) & have a nice Trae/Tre/Giddey backcourt trio to go with Dieng, Chet, Dort & the rest
OKC is hanging up the phone laughing
OKC would die of laughter…
Shai is on another level… Young is a wannabe with an ego…
The next Dlo…
In what way other than height is Shai on another level from Trae?
Hairstyle.
You rank SGA’s hairstyle better than Trae Young’s. That’s what you chose to comment. Smh.
Yeah, I know man
smh.
Wild times.
How many picks is okc also getting?
Are all y’all high AF? Trae is miles better than SGA, even with Alexander’s current scoring form. He’s proven since he joined the league as one of the best scorers and passers in the league doing it consistently year on year. Barring Luka and Steph he’s arguably the best PG in the league. (And that includes Ja, SGA and Garland). He’s a regular 28-9 player.
If Hawks take SGA & Williams, I suggest OKC to rip their hand, arm and even their head off for that deal! With the exception to maybe 5 teams. Every other team in the league would be jumping over each other for the guy if he was available.
I agree that Trae is obv a beast & has proven as much time & time again. But tbh I would be extremely cautious about trading Shai & Jalen away if I’m okc tho. Thats 2 future perennial all-stars imo. From OKC’s pov I think they should be aggressive in trading for Trae if possible but I’d def try not to give up both of those guys.
Trey is a good scoring point guard, but there is about 10 who are ahead of him. Detoits pg, Memphis pg , Dallas pg … Etc. They are not a defensive liability. Plus the point guard Dejointe Murrey is better..
Smh. This comment section is the worst I swear. Straight up means straight up. If u have a counter offer & want picks feel free to present an offer you’d find fair. I mean the word sooner is in ur username this should be right down ur lane
But that’s the kicker, you’re saying you wouldn’t trade a top 5 PG. an AllNBA calibre. Most overall points last year out of every player in the league, for a very good player having a huge season, but not proven competitive, and a possible AS level player?
C’mon, OKC would give them and Giddey to get him. Or liquidate all those picks they probably don’t need.
TBF OKC are alright. With SGA, Giddey & Chet they have likely AS players min. Along with a few possible AS players in Williams etc and a good pick this year… again. They’ll be fine. Between them Rockets, Pistons & ORL the future is bright.
Problem is Presti’s tank tactics causing itchy feet. He’s already the reason Giddey missed out of all Rookie 1st by sitting him. And SGA would already be an AS had he not been sat for “injuries” 2 years in a row. If he does it again Shai will probably request a trade.
He “chose not to play?” What a joke the NBA has become. Coaches are simply babysitters
enter ime udoka
That’s what she said.
Some of these young brats these days just have been babied their whole lives and have no clue about how to relate to others…
Just look at that dumb kid in Minnesota…
These egos have far outgrown their skills and they are making clowns of themselves…
Jock culture being brought up in the participation confidence boosting era I guess…
U live in Minnesota?
Really don’t see what he’s done wrong here tbh.
Fans love to get on players for not playing 40 minutes a night 82 games a season like back in the good old days. This generation spoilt etc etc
He was getting treatment on a bad shoulder and was asked will he participate in a shoot around and then get further treatment before playing. Trae said nah I was just going to rest it up until the game and see how it feels. McMillian got annoyed and said well I’ll play you off the bench or don’t play and he chose not to play. It’s really not that deep. Obviously Nate got some attitude going about him missing shoot around and then being benched and Traes like I have a bad shoulder you want me to risky further injury just for a shoot around nah.
James Harden in Houston would go on benders and miss practices and shoot around turn up to games drop a 40 piece and bounce. Not that everyone should do it but it’s your star player and you have to give them a little more freedom and flexibility. I always here JJ Reddick on his podcast talking about vets not going to shoot around or some guys taking 5 shots and then walking off. Trae ain’t asking to go on a bender he saying my shoulder is sore I’m just going to see how it feels.
I think Nate’s in the wrong on this one
It all worked out in the end. DJ got to shine, Aaron Holiday worked his way back into the rotation & even Vit was able to get his 1st real pt of the season. Trae, like Chipper, Deion, Vick, Acuna, Nique, Julio & other stars we’ve seen, has slight negatives that go along with his on court brilliance. He’s extremely ball dominant & a negative defensively. Hes also arguably the best pg in the world offensively. Nate has managed Trae & the team in general very well the past couple yrs. He def hasn’t been perfect but he’s done a really good job overall. His failure to incorporate John into the offense is a much bigger problem than this recent thing with Trae but I do suspect that they’re linked, indirectly or not.
There isn’t enough money in the world to voluntarily deal with fools in this league on a daily basis.
You do it for free, fym?
It’s not voluntary it’s called a job. A career really. They generate the money. Nothing is given to them.
Trae is a career 25.4 pts, 9.1 ast, in 34 mins
Plus he’s a closer. To be able to score or pass at this rate. Makes you a dangerous closer. He doesn’t get enough credit for being an ast guy too. Brons stats —- career
38 mins, 27.1 pts, 7.3 ast .
Trae deserves a little respect. Imo that backcourt can be best in NBA.
Reminds me of Marcus Smart & the Celtics last year. Hopefully it turns out as good for the Hawks as it did the Celtics
Smart is a better player than Trae
Looks like it’s time to fire Nate and let Van Exel become the greatest coach of all time
Finally people will start to realize how bad McMillan is… just get rid of him!
No way to treat a player, specially your star player… telling him bench or don’t bother coming… there is no way to treat people worse than that, right?
Trae is an all-star player, he has proven several times his value. However, I personally think he conditions too much the rest of the team with his game and defense (one of the worst of the league as far as I remember, you can check on the league stats).
Excellent player for the globetrotters but not to win a championship. He would required an elite set of players around him, and still…I am not sure if it would work. He has good scoring numbers, but he also shoots a lot and his crazy out of rhythm 3 points shots from the mid court….another story.
His best attribute is the playmaking, his IQ is one of the top ones in the league, no doubt. The problem is his defense.
P.S
I am a Hawks fan, and I have watched all his games since he joined.
@Jordi I agree mostly, but with Trae being able to contend, he only needs a 25+ AS level scorer to support on the offence and an elite defender to make up for his “short”coming defensively. Both of which I think they have addressed with Murray. They just need time to Gel.
Their issue is front court & bench contribution. Collins has been very poor so far, and Clint isn’t showing the elite defence we usually see. Move Collins add a strong 2-way forward & a couple of good role players. That would make them strong contenders.