Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young pushed back this week after ESPN analyst and former NBA champion Iman Shumpert questioned his overall impact on the court, with Young suggesting his on-court history against Shumpert spoke for itself.
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The exchange began after Shumpert commented on Young's contract situation during an ESPN segment, questioning what Young contributes beyond scoring. Shumpert, a 10-year NBA veteran, criticized Young's defense and suggested he couldn't elevate teammates into scoring threats — a clear shot at Young's playmaking.
"What else can he do?" Shumpert asked, adding that Young struggles defensively and isn't the kind of guard who turns backcourt partners into offensive stars.
"Trae Young statistically what he brings to a game of basketball I get it. At 6'3, it's tough to say can he switch onto a 5 at the end of the game, can he guard a bigger guard...can he make a 2-guard a scoring champion?" - @imanshumpert https://t.co/WXV49PuYPG pic.twitter.com/lQInvvdlGi
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) July 18, 2025
Young, 25, responded via social media, replying to a user on X who called Shumpert's breakdown "a bad breakdown of basketball."
"That's why I let them live," Young wrote. "What I did to him on the court when we played you'd think he'd have more respect when my name gets brought up! I could keep going... no hate this way tho."
Young and Shumpert overlapped briefly in the Eastern Conference during Shumpert's final NBA seasons. Young entered the league in 2018, while Shumpert, now 35, played his last NBA game in 2021.
Shumpert's assessment raised eyebrows given Young's recent production. The four-time All-Star led the NBA in assists last season at 11.6 per game, marking his third straight year averaging double-digit assists.
While Young's defense and shot selection have drawn criticism during his career, analysts noted that expecting a 6-foot-1 guard to switch onto centers — as Shumpert implied — is an unrealistic standard in today's NBA.
Young is currently under contract for $46 million next season, with a $49 million player option in 2026-27. He is eligible this summer for a four-year max extension worth up to $229 million. Atlanta has not indicated whether it plans to offer that deal, though recent win-now roster moves suggest the team may be building around him rather than exploring a trade.
Young averaged 25.7 points and 10.8 assists last season for the Hawks.
