Trae Young is held to a different standard than the rest of the NBA

The article argues that Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young is unfairly criticized and held to a different standard than other NBA players. It cites recent comments by Iman Shumpert questioning Young's defensive capabilities against bigger players and his overall impact beyond scoring, suggesting his style represents a dying breed of smaller point guards.

The author counters this narrative, stating that groupthink and hot takes are harming sports analysis. They highlight Young's elite playmaking, noting he led the NBA in assists last season and has averaged over 10 assists per game for three consecutive years. They also refute a previous claim by Marcus Morris that Young only recently started passing well, pointing out Young has more total assists than anyone since entering the league.

The article dismisses Shumpert's assertion that Young's defense caps the Hawks' ceiling as "completely absurd," arguing no traditional point guard can effectively guard centers, and even wings struggle with that task. While acknowledging Young's defense is still not good, the author emphasizes it has improved significantly from when he entered the league and was arguably the worst defender. They contend that Young won't receive the respect he deserves until he wins a championship, and even that might not be enough, despite him already reaching the Eastern Conference Finals.

Finally, the piece notes that Young now has the best roster of his career, and the Hawks are expected to be a top-six seed in the East. However, the author predicts critics will still find ways to minimize Young's accomplishments even if the season meets expectations.