Trae Young’s offseason was supposed to be all about optimism. The Atlanta Hawks went all-in this summer, landing Kristaps Porzingis, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Luke Kennard in a bold attempt to give their star point guard the most complete supporting cast of his career. Atlanta, Georgia, clearly wants to make noise in a suddenly wide-open Eastern Conference.
But leave it to Patrick Beverley to stir the pot. On a recent episode of the Pat Bev Podcast, the veteran guard didn’t just question Young’s leadership; he basically said players don’t even want to share the court with him.
“I’ve talked to people who played in Atlanta. They don’t wanna play there. They don’t think he’s a good leader. They don’t think he’s a good teammate… If you don’t win, when you retire, they’re gonna forget your name,” Beverley said on X (formerly Twitter).
Pat Bev Sounds off on Georgia’s Trae Young
That’s about as blunt as it gets. Pat Bev has never been one to hold back, but this one hit especially hard considering the Hawks’ current situation. This isn’t the first time Young’s leadership has been questioned. The 25-year-old has developed a reputation for running an extremely heliocentric offense, basically meaning the ball lives in his hands, which can rub some teammates the wrong way. Still, it’s hard to argue that guys like John Collins and Kevin Huerter didn’t benefit financially from playing next to him. Collins got paid big before eventually being traded, and Huerter turned himself into a valuable piece in Sacramento’s rotation.
But Beverley’s comments throw a bit of gasoline on the fire as Atlanta gears up for what feels like a make-or-break year. They even had the keyboard warrior himself, Kevin Durant out of his seat. “You sound delusional, brother,” wrote the Slim Reaper on X. Young is under contract for this upcoming season, but there’s another wrinkle: he reportedly wanted a new extension this summer. The Hawks haven’t offered one yet. That could be telling.
Can Trae Young Get It Done?
Instead, Atlanta’s front office, led by Onsi Saleh, appears to be taking a wait-and-see approach. They’re betting that their new roster can make a deep playoff run and that Young will want to stick around long-term. But if this season goes south, all bets are off, and suddenly Young’s future in Atlanta could be in question.
Let’s be real, Beverley might be doing more than just sharing secondhand gossip. He’s a pro at getting under people’s skin, and this could be a way to put pressure on Young heading into a pivotal season. If nothing else, it makes for great offseason drama. What’s undeniable is that this is the most talented team Trae Young has ever had around him.
In Atlanta, Georgia, they have Porzingis stretching the floor. Kennard is firing away from three, and Alexander-Walker is bringing defensive versatility; the excuses are officially gone. This year should show once and for all whether Trae Young is the kind of leader who can carry a team deep into the playoffs, or if Patrick Beverley’s comments might have some truth to them. Either way, we now have another storyline to watch heading into the season: Trae Young vs. the critics. And knowing Trae, he might just drop 40 in the opener to silence the noise.
