Atlanta Hawks second-year guard Trae Young is the engine that makes the team go on offense. He is electrifying, and one of the best young shooters in the game. On Tuesday night, the Hawks were dealt a crushing blow as Young went down with what appeared to be a serious ankle injury.
As Young drove the lane early in the second quarter against the Miami Heat, he tried to euro-step around several Heat defenders. Justise Winslow got a hold of the ball as Young drove, and his strength forced Young to take a couple of awkward steps. On his final step, Young rolled his right ankle.
Via Twitter:
Trae Young went down with a right ankle injury and had to be helped off the court 😕 pic.twitter.com/rHMP8uSuAK
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) October 30, 2019
X-Rays were negative on Atlanta guard Trae Young’s right ankle, and there’s optimism that this isn’t a serious injury, league sources tell ESPN. Young will undergo an MRI soon.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 30, 2019
Young did not return to the game, and the status of his ankle and his health is as of yet unknown.
No doubt folks will make large the role of Young’s shoes here. He was seen wearing the adidas N3XT L3V3L, a slip-on basketball shoe that has a knit material on top that will raise a few eyebrows.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 29: A detail of Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks shoes prior to the game against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on October 29, 2019 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Even if it’s a high ankle sprain, that could mean some serious missed time for Young. At this point, Hawks fans are probably just hoping that he hasn’t done any significant damage to the ligaments in his leg.
Atlanta will struggle without him, and hopefully he can make it back onto the floor soon.
