Trae Young is heading into a pivotal stretch of his career, one that could see him hit free agency in 2026 if he and the Atlanta Hawks fail to agree on a contract extension.
In today’s NBA, where franchise stars often secure early extensions or are traded before reaching that point, Young’s situation is unusual. Still, the 27-year-old guard insists he’s at peace with the uncertainty surrounding his future.
“I think it’s going to be great. I’m not worried about it,” Young told ESPN. “As much as I wish it was, it’s not all in my hands and I can’t control everything. I just can only control the present. And I know if we win, everybody eats … I understand what winning can do.”
Young said his focus remains on leading Atlanta to success rather than stressing over contract talks.
“If certain things don’t go my way as far as injuries, health and stuff that I can’t control, that may be the man above telling me there’s another plan for me,” he continued. “I’m focused on making sure all my guys, Quin [Snyder] included, get taken care of and succeed.”
The two-time All-Star also addressed how he’s often misunderstood by fans and media, saying this season offers him a chance to rewrite the narrative.
“There’s a lot of misconceptions of me,” Young said. “They’ll get changed over time, and I truly believe that. And I feel like a lot of it will get changed this year.”
Head coach Quin Snyder echoed that sentiment, saying the team’s system is designed to highlight Young’s all-around growth.
“The keyword for Trae is efficiency,” Snyder said. “I think what you are going to see is Trae having to feel the game in a way. There’s games that’s going to mean scoring more. There’s games where he will be passing more. The constants will be him forcing pace … He was one of the best at passing ahead, if not the best.”
Snyder also emphasized the importance of defense.
“The other thing he has to do every night is be efficient defensively. One of the things we did talk about was me challenging him … He wants to get better every year.”
Young also compared his public image to that of Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, who was once labeled a “hothead” before changing perceptions through winning.
“People may get the wrong perception of us because of what you see on social media or what somebody may say about you,” Young said. “I understand Baker, when they say, he’s a hothead [or] he’s crazy. But then when you’re winning, now he’s a dawg. He’s competitive. The whole perspective changes just because you win. That’s my main focus. I just want to win. That’ll change all the narratives.”
Trae Young Believes Winning Will 'Change All The Narratives' https://t.co/8jCdJCAoMl
— RealGM (@RealGM) October 27, 2025
