Trae Young orchestrated the Atlanta Hawks (16-23) to a 109-99 victory over the San Antonio Spurs (7-32), amassing 36 points and showcasing his playmaking prowess.
However, the spotlight also turned to Victor Wembanyama, the rising star for the Spurs, who delivered a remarkable second-half performance with 26 points, 13 rebounds, and nine dunks.
Despite the Hawks maintaining a commanding 35-point lead, the Spurs mounted a late comeback fueled by Wembanyama’s impressive display on the court.
The French prodigy recently addressed concerns about not receiving enough passes from his teammates, stating that he believes the narrative is not accurate.
Young, acknowledging Wembanyama’s impactful presence, expressed empathy for the young player. He highlighted the uncertainty opponents face when Wembanyama is on the court, emphasizing the threat he poses with shot-blocking and lob finishes. However, Young’s comments subtly suggest that Wembanyama may not be receiving as many passes as he deserves.
In Young’s words, “He’s a presence every time he’s on the floor. You don’t know if he’s going to block your shot or back to the big for the lob. On offense they used him a lot better in the second half throwing it up to him. Sometimes you feel for him. He has some open looks. Sometimes they don’t get it to him. And they were getting to him in that second half on those lobs and just throwing it up to him.”
Reflecting on Wembanyama’s offensive contributions in the second half, Young’s statement highlighted the Spurs’ improved utilization of the young talent, particularly in executing lob plays.
This season Wembanyama is averaging 19.6 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3 assists and 3.2 blocks in 28.6 minutes per game.
