Luka Doncic responded to Trae Young’s trade from the Atlanta Hawks to the Washington Wizards, expressing respect and support for his former draft-night counterpart. Despite their careers now taking different paths, Doncic praised Young’s talent and wished him well on his new chapter in Washington.
Trae Young made headlines on Wednesday as the Atlanta Hawks finally traded the four-time All-Star to the Washington Wizards in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert.
Trae Young
Trae Young
Trae Young
MIN: 28.01
PTS: 19.3 (57.21%)
REB: 1.5
As: 8.9
ST: 0.9
BL: 0.2
TO: 2.6
GM: 10
The deal ends Young’s seven-plus season run as the face of Atlanta and sends him to his preferred destination in Washington, instantly becoming one of the season’s biggest moves.
Despite the trade frenzy, Luka Doncic remained calm when asked about Young following the Los Angeles Lakers’ 107-91 loss to the Spurs. The two players’ careers have been intertwined since draft night 2018, when Atlanta selected Doncic before trading him to Dallas for Young and a future first-round pick.
“Obviously, we came together, we got traded for each other,” Doncic said per Dave McMenamin. “There’s been a lot of talk about me and him, but we have a good relationship. I have a lot of respect for him. So if he’s excited for this new journey, I’m excited for him.”
Doncic’s response came after a dominant triple-double performance: 38 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. Since entering the league, both guards have left significant marks: Doncic leads active players in points per game, while Young tops assists per game.
For Atlanta, the trade signals a new era. The Hawks, currently 18-21 and ninth in the Eastern Conference, will now focus on players like Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, Onyeka Okongwu, and Zaccharie Risacher.
McCollum adds veteran scoring and leadership, while his expiring $30.6 million contract gives Atlanta flexibility for future moves. The team also keeps valuable draft assets, including the better of the Pelicans' or Bucks' first-round picks in the upcoming draft.
For Young, the move offers a fresh start in Washington. He holds a $48.9 million player option for 2026-27, expected to be exercised, and will join a Wizards roster looking to rise from the East’s lower ranks.
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