Trae Young is Not even the Hawks Best Player…
The question feels almost blasphemous on the surface: Are the Atlanta Hawks actually better without Trae Young?
It’s the kind of topic that flickers across social media, fueled by quick reactions and short-term results. But this season demands a deeper look, especially with Young still sidelined for at least two more weeks after spraining his right MCL on Oct. 29 in Brooklyn.
Young has already missed 15 games and will miss at least seven more before the next evaluation window. That alone removes him from All-NBA eligibility due to the league’s 65-game minimum. Yet the Hawks have done more than stay afloat, they’ve surged. Friday’s 130-123 win over Cleveland pushed them to 12–8, and they’ve gone 10–5 since Young’s injury.
A team built around one of the most ball-dominant playmakers in the league has somehow unlocked a new identity without him. And that’s where the story becomes more nuanced than a simple “better or worse.”
Jalen Johnson’s Rise From “Potential” to “Franchise Cornerstone”
If one player has benefited most from Trae Young’s absence, it’s Jalen Johnson.
Long praised for his versatility, Johnson has stepped into a full-scale leadership role and blossomed into the kind of two-way force the Hawks hoped he could become.
This year he’s averaging:
- 21.9 PPG
- 9.6 RPG
- 7.3 APG
- 1.7 SPG
He leads the team in points, rebounds, and assists, and his command in transition has redefined how Atlanta plays. Johnson has given the Hawks a version of offensive flow and defensive engagement that is sustainable, and structurally different from the Trae Young era.
His rise, more than anything else, is why the Hawks have remained competitive.
A Team Growing in Young’s Absence
Atlanta’s supporting cast has stepped into expanded roles with impressive efficiency:
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker: 19.3 PPG, nearly 2 stocks (steals + blocks) per game
- Kristaps Porziņģis: 18.7 PPG, 1.6 BPG
- Onyeka Okongwu: 16.5 PPG, 1.1 BPG, showcasing elite interior finishing
- Zaccharie Risacher (2024 No. 1 pick): 11.8 PPG, 1 SPG, strong defensive instincts
The Hawks also rank:
- 1st in assists (30.8 per game)
- 7th in steals (9.3)
- 6th in blocks (5.5)
- 5th in field-goal percentage (48.9%)
- 7th in made field goals (43.3)
This is a team playing fast, sharing the ball, defending aggressively, and using length and athleticism to pressure opponents — traits that don’t always show up when Young dominates possessions.
Dyson Daniels: A Tale of Impact Beyond the Numbers
Last season, Dyson Daniels made the leap:
- Most Improved Player
- All-Defensive First Team
- Defensive Player of the Year finalist
- Led the NBA in steals (3.0 per game)
This season, without Young generating advantages for him, his scoring has dipped to 10.0 PPG, but his rebounding (6.5) and assists (5.9) are both career highs. He’s still averaging 2.2 steals per game, maintaining his defensive excellence.
His reduced scoring isn’t evidence of regression, it’s a reflection of role change and spacing shifts without Young’s gravity.
So… Are the Hawks Better Without Trae?
The short answer: No, but they’re different, and that difference has helped certain players grow.
Trae Young remains one of the league’s elite playmakers, the reigning NBA assist champion, and a four-time All-Star. His scoring and passing warp defenses in ways no other Hawk can replicate. His return will elevate the offense, ease pressure on Daniels, and create easier looks for Johnson, Porziņģis, and Okongwu.
But the Hawks’ success without him shows something rarely visible in past seasons:
This is no longer a one-man team.
Young’s eventual return will blend with Johnson’s breakout, the improved balance of the supporting cast, and a team that has learned how to function without leaning on a single offensive engine.
That combination, if it clicks, may finally give Atlanta the identity it has spent years searching for.
For now, the Hawks aren’t better without Trae Young.
But they are finally good enough to be better with him.
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