Trae Young’s move to No. 3 with the Washington Wizards goes beyond a simple nod to two of the game’s great guards.
Young had spent eight seasons in No. 11 with the Atlanta Hawks, but after arriving in Washington he switched numbers for the 2026-27 NBA season. On a recent episode of WatchGuys with Robertino, the four-time All-Star explained that the choice ties back not just to Chris Paul and Allen Iverson, but to his own family.
“Yeah, I mean, I wore number three my freshman year of high school. So I've worn it before.
It was my dad's number in college and growing up. So, I mean, my favorite players Chris Paul and Allen Iverson were number three,” Young said.
“That was something that was always kind of in my DNA. So it was kind of easy getting over here and switching to number three. So I'm looking forward to making some memories in that number now.”
Young has long admired Paul and Iverson, two guards whose careers left a major imprint on the league. Paul became one of the NBA’s top playmakers, while Iverson carved out a legacy through his scoring and his influence on the sport’s culture.
The conversation also turned to style, with Robertino bringing up Iverson’s impact on fashion. That led Young to point to another former star as the player he grew up loving most.
“Yeah, I mean, obviously, yeah. Steve Nash, I mean, I said Steve Nash. Steve Nash was my favorite player,” Young said.
When asked if Nash still held that spot all time, Young said yes and expanded on why the former guard stood out to him.
“All time. He's obviously a guy that transcended style and made it where it's flashy and okay to wear what you want and be flashy and still go out and do your thing. I don't know if there was one guy who really stood out to me.”
Young also talked about what he sees in Washington’s new-look roster, including Anthony Davis and No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa. He said Dybantsa has handled the weight of being the top pick without showing signs of being overwhelmed.
“Like, being the number one pick, there's a lot of pressure that comes with it, but you can't really see it just by being around him,” Young said.
He added that teammates Tre Johnson and Kyshawn George should draw more attention as the Wizards improve. Young also urged Dybantsa to keep the focus on winning rather than chasing individual spotlight.
“Obviously, it's easy to focus on yourself and try to make your mark. But I think the easiest way to find success early is focusing on the team's success,” Young said.
Washington is coming off Friday’s 107-106 preseason loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. The Wizards will begin their 2026-27 regular season Wednesday, Oct. 21, when they host the Milwaukee Bucks at 7 p.m. ET.
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