Four-time NBA All-Star Trae Young is set to start a new chapter in his career. The veteran guard joined the Washington Wizards on Wednesday, after the Atlanta Hawks swapped him for guards CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert.
The 27-year-old was the heart and soul of the Hawks since Atlanta drafted him in 2018 with the No. 5 overall pick. The Wizards officially announced the acquisition of Young on Friday, which was followed by the player revealing he would wear a different number with the capital team.
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Young shared a picture of his new locker room, showing that he will wear No. 3. He couldn’t wear No. 11, his Atlanta number, since it is retired in Washington (Elvin Hayes).
Trae Young played 493 games with the Hawks, averaging 25.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 9.8 assists per game, shooting 43.2% from the field, 35.1% from beyond the arc and 87.3% from the free-throw line. He was last season’s assists champion, among other accolades.
Young said goodbye to Hawks fans with a social media post, thanking them for their love over the years.
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“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord- Jeremiah 29:11
NEVER THOUGHT I’D BE TYPING THIS… THE LAST FEW YEARS WEREN’T HOW I WANTED THEM TO BE. EXPECTATIONS THAT WE CREATED FOR OURSELVES, REACHING HEIGHTS THAT ATLANTA HAS NEVER REACHED BEFORE. BRINGING A CHAMPIONSHIP TO ATLANTA WAS ALWAYS MY GOAL. HOWEVER, BETWEEN THE INJURIES, THE SETBACKS, AND SITUATIONS THAT DIDN’T MAKE SENSE, WE NEVER TRULY GOT TO SEE OUR FULL POTENTIAL.THE CITY THAT RAISED ME AND TAUGHT ME SO MUCH WILL ALWAYS BE A CHAPTER IN THIS STORY.. HOWEVER, THE PAIN OF STAYING THE SAME EVENTUALLY OUTWEIGHED THE UNCERTAINTY OF CHANGE. CHANGE IS OFTEN MET WITH FEAR, BUT I SEE IT AS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY. I’M WALKING INTO THIS NEXT CHAPTER ECSTATIC, WITH MY HEAD HIGH AND MY EYES FORWARD. IT’S TIME TO SEE WHAT’S POSSIBLE WHEN THE SUPPORT IS REAL AND THE VISION IS CLEAR. WE MOVE. – TRA3 YOUNG
The Wizards (10-26) rank 14th in the Eastern Conference standings. Trae Young’s addition could spark a bounce-back for the rest of the season.
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