Recently reports appeared about an exchange between Trae Young and Hawks head coach Nate McMillan which led to the player not attend a game.
Reportedly, there was disagreement between the player about the way he is dealing with an injury. McMillan allegedly gave Young two options – to come off the bench and not show up at all and the point guard went with the second option.
McMillan denied ever telling his team’s star to not come to the game. For his part, the player refused to discuss the incident, repeatedly saying that it’s a private that those that don’t know the details would not understand.
Former NBA coach George Karl sided with McMillan. He expressed irritation by players that cause problems one day and then try to play victim the next one.
“I’m tired of Trae Young. I’m just tired of him,” Karl said on SiriusXM NBA Radio. “He’s not only got one coach fired, now he’s getting another damn good coach fired or trying to or whatever he’s doing. At least that’s what I see.
“Passive aggressive behind the scenes. What’s going on behind the curtain I don’t have any idea other than that. I get tired of guys who cause the hell, and a day later they’re the victim.
“That’s not the case. Trae Young is a hell of a basketball, very good basketball player. He is not a superstar yet, he is not a special All-Star yet, he is not a player that’s proven that he is a big-time winner yet. And now we want to give him all those things before he’s ever gotten them and give him the luxury that comes with that.
“I’m not buying that, I’m just no buying it, I’m sorry. I think Nate [McMillan] is a tough-minded coach. I think in today’s game there’s not a lot of tough-minded coaches out there. But Nate is going to hold his line on certain things and I admire and respect him for that. And I think we need more of it in our game today.”
