Trae Young
Trae Young has had a strong NBA career. He has been selected to four All-Star Games. He has put up some incredible scoring and assist numbers from the day he first got to Atlanta.
The same will likely be true of him when he gets to Washington and finally starts suiting up. NBA pundit and former player Brian Scalabrine made some very interesting comments around Young and how he plays the game earlier this week.
Jamal Shead was drafted by the Toronto Raptors last season, and has looked impressive since entering the league. Scalabrine compared the young guard to Young in a very interesting way, that we’re going to be using the next section to break down.
Certainly, a second-year guard and an eight-year one that play so differently, are a bit tough to compare.
Brian Scalabrine With Bold Jamal Shead Claim
Brian Scalabrine, on a recording with Frank Isola, had the following to say about why Jamal Shead is more valuable into today’s NBA than Trae Young.
“”Jamal Shead is probably better for the NBA now than Trae Young. Jamal Shead can guard; he moves the ball, he can get to the rim and make a play. Trae Young doesn’t guard.”
Young has been known for putting up big numbers, though his defense has come into question. Listed below though, is a video showcasing a minute of him making big defensive plays with the game hanging in the balance.
Of course, Shead has proven himself pretty quickly in the league. The Raptors have been dealing with injuries, and he has taken a big leap with the larger playing time opportunities. The team traded Davion Mitchell at last year’s deadline so that he could come in and be the defensive stopper.
His scoring numbers are still the same, but his assist averages have gone from four to five per night. The Houston product has shined after being a mid-second-round selection in the 2024 draft.
As good as he has been though, Young has been to four All-Star Games. He was the number one option on a team that went to the Eastern Conference Finals. It’s a tricky comparison.
Both players bring a lot to the table in their own right, but it’s certainly an interesting discussion to have.
A Couple of Playmaking Guards
Jamal Shead is certainly on the rise in Toronto. The drafting that this team has done in the last few years has been impressive. They got themselves an absolute dog, and did so with the 45th selection in the draft.
With his assist numbers up and his confidence never wavering, he can be thrown comfortably into any situation and thrive.
As the team looks ahead to a likely playoff berth, Shead is somebody that is only going to raise his profile.
As for Trae Young, he has admittedly had a down year. Atlanta was 2-8 with him in the lineup this year, a big part of why he was moved to the Wizards. He just wasn’t fitting the play style as well, but that’s partly due to the incredible rise of a ball-dominant Jalen Johnson.
Young, when he does take the floor again, should be a must-see player again. The notion from Brian Scalabrine that Shead is better for the game than Young is interesting. But, in an entertainment league that values playmaking, Trae is the guy.
Of course, situationally speaking, Shead is more likely to play the final defensive possession. But that doesn’t make him better for the game or more valuable over the full 48.