Trae Young: ‘If I was 6’8″, I feel like I would be the best player to ever play this game’

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Trae Young has never lacked self-confidence.

Young appeared on the “Million Dollar Worth of Game” podcast and said some intelligent and thoughtful things… but of course, that’s not going to be the headline. He also said this (hat tip Hoopshype):

“I used to have this saying: I hate when I see guys that are tall, and that’s all. You know what I’m saying? They’re just tall, and that’s it. They can finish, they can do some stuff, but if I was 6’8″, I feel like I would be the best player to ever play this game just because of my mentality and the smartness I have on this game. I feel like there’s a lot I can bring, but there are a lot of deficiencies because I’m 6’1″, 6’2″. It’s tough, and I’m playing in a big man’s game, you know what I’m saying? But I make it work.”

Young is a three-time All-Star, an elite scorer and passer entering his prime, around whom Atlanta management has struggled to build a winner. How much of that failure to win is on Young is the question. When the Hawks looked to trade him or Dejonte Murray this summer, there was a much stronger market and a better return for Murray. Teams did not show much interest in an undersized point guard who has to have the ball in his hands to be effective and is a liability on defense. There are questions around the league about if anyone could build a contender around Young (even though the Hawks reached the Eastern Conference Finals with him).

Talking hoop beyond himself, Young said the only person stopping Kevin Durant is Kevin Durant — Young feels the same way about his game — and also talked about the hardest guards to cover in the league, but he had a hard time keeping that list short.

“There’s a lot of great guards in the league right now. I mean, it’s not just one guy. They all bring something different, so I don’t think it’s just one guy. If I had to pick the top five hardest guards to guard, I’d say KD, Dame, Steph, Kyrie, Shai — outside of myself. I mean, I’m in that category if I don’t count myself. Those five are really good guards. I mean, Luka’s in there too. It’s a different guard every night,…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/trae-young-6-8-feel-164811913.html

Author : NBC Sports

Publish date : 2024-09-10 16:48:11

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