Trae Young Returns in Limited Action as Hawks Begin Next Phase of Season
The Atlanta Hawks didn’t get the win against the Charlotte Hornets, but they did get something just as important: their floor general is back.
Trae Young made his return to the court after missing time with a right MCL sprain. The All-Star point guard was on a minutes restriction, logging just 20 minutes in his first game back. He finished with eight points and 10 assists-modest numbers by his standards, but a solid step forward in what the Hawks hope will be a steady return to form.
This was Young’s first time rehabbing a knee injury in his career, and that unfamiliar territory adds a layer of complexity to his comeback. After the game, he was candid about the challenge of balancing competitive instincts with medical caution.
“I feel fine,” Young told reporters. “It’s not going to take me very long to be where I need to be. I think it was a good first step.”
That’s exactly what this was: a first step. Young didn’t dominate the box score, but he impacted the game in the way he always does-by orchestrating the offense. Even in limited minutes, he managed to rack up 10 assists, a testament to both his vision and the Hawks’ continued emphasis on ball movement this season.
But conditioning is a different story. No matter how much work a player puts in off the court, nothing replicates game speed. Young acknowledged that shaking off the rust is part of the process.
“The main part is the conditioning,” he said. “Not having the leeway to give more than you can is not easy, but it's the first one.”
That theme-patience-is one echoed by head coach Quin Snyder, who emphasized that reintegrating Young isn’t just about his individual rhythm, but about how the team functions around him.
“It’s going to be a process for us and everybody to get acclimated for Trae to continue to get in shape,” Snyder said. “All the different things are required when you put a group together. It's good to have a first step in the process to be able to look at it and continue to find ways to be better as a group.”
The Hawks are walking a fine line here. On one hand, they need Young on the floor-his presence changes everything for this team.
On the other, they’re playing the long game. That’s why he’s already been ruled out for the second night of the back-to-back against the Spurs, listed as out for right knee injury management.
Young understands that dynamic, even if it’s not easy for a competitor like him to sit out.
“Whether I like it or not, I just have to trust them and allow the people that helped me through the rehab process to continue to do that,” he said.
That trust will be key as the season wears on. Young’s return marks a turning point for Atlanta, not just in terms of wins and losses, but in how they shape their identity moving forward. With their star back in the lineup-albeit gradually-the Hawks can begin building toward the version of themselves they envisioned when the season began.
There’s no exact timeline for when Young will be back to full strength, but if this first game was any indication, the foundation is there. The passing is crisp, the instincts are intact, and the leadership is already making a difference. Now it’s just about getting his legs under him-and when that happens, the Hawks might finally start to find their groove.