Trae Young Speaks On Recovery, The Atlanta Hawks Success, and His OUMBB Assistant GM Position

Trae Young Speaks On Recovery, The Atlanta Hawks Success, and His OUMBB Assistant GM Position

What’s up y’all? Back here with another episode from the point by your favorite point. Obviously, we’ve been having a lot of things going on here lately. We got a lot of topics we can talk about here. And so, I think that’s the best part about having this platform now is that you don’t have to to hear from anybody around us or around me. Um, you get to hear it straight from the source. So, back with another episode and let’s get into it. Obviously, the the way I fell um was just unfortunate. I mean, it’s part of basketball and I’m I’m I’m getting right and um I’m going to be back soon. Mentally, I didn’t know like how challenging it was being on the sideline and really just watching and um I mean, I feel for all the players that have had to go through injuries and mine isn’t the worst injury in the world. And um we’ve had players that obviously some stars in our league are going through worse injuries than me. And for me, just now understanding like the mental side of it and how challenging that that part is of just sitting there watching and rehabbing every day and some days not touching a basketball and just focus on straight your injury. And um I definitely I definitely have another um side of of of empathy for those those type of guys and um being a part of that now um I I have a different viewpoint from this side. So and but like when it comes to injuries like it’s it’s crazy to see how many stars are out like in in the game today. I mean and then obviously seeing them coming back from rehab and the videos. I mean, obviously you see guys like JT back on the court, Tyrese Duncan again. Um, I mean, even Kyrie, you know what I’m saying, from from his ACL injury last year. There’s a lot of guys that are going through things. And, um, I think that’s I mean, I don’t know, it could be a tribute to how fast the game is nowadays. Um, the the space and how much guys are moving on and off the ball. Uh, everybody’s always in action. Um, I don’t think I don’t think you can you can hide anymore in the NBA. Uh, I think you’re always going to be in action and that that puts a lot of wear and tear on your bodies. And um, I think that’s just that’s something guys are going to get better at over time. You’re going to be able to control that more as as we learn more about our bodies and nutrition and things like that. But, um, I mean, it’s it’s it’s a part of the game and, um, it’s it’s tough whenever you have to go through it. Uh, but like I said, it’s a part of it. But on the bright side, oh, we’ve been hooping. I ain’t going to lie. Like I just I love I love our team. The vibe. Um, obviously my teammates know my saying is the vibes is high. So, uh, we’ve been we’ve been balling, man. The whole team. I feel like everybody’s been growing even more into their roles from from from last year and having to do a little bit more. and uh you’re seeing some of the stuff that guys have worked on in the off season and maybe some things that have surprised uh some of y’all uh that that guys can do. You’re getting to see it see a lot of it now and the way we’re playing with the pace and getting out um getting stops and then running. Um, we’re just taking care of business and um, you you can’t can’t necessarily say that we’ve been able to to have games like we’re like this this year in previous seasons where we’re just taking care of games that we’re supposed to. And um, you got to give got to give our team credit, man. Like we’re just fighting. The schedule’s been ridiculously tough. I don’t know what the I mean, Adam got no offense, Adam. Um, but I think against our schedule, man, it’s just crazy like just from the the the long West Coast trip and then obviously coming back here and never feeling like you’re at home. But I know things will change um when it comes to the schedule, but our team has been playing well, man. And uh I’m happy to to see everybody playing playing well. By no means by me saying this, I don’t want to get it twisted. There’s been more people on our team ball than just Jaylen and Aquil and and even O. like those those three guys have been obviously crazy and standoutish and I’m going to get to them in a second, believe me. Um, but you can’t forget about guys like V, guys like like like Dyson. They’ve had a lot of great games in this the stretch run. Zack, you know what I’m saying? Katon been balling. Um, he’s had games where he’s been sick and had to come back and fighting through sicknesses and just to stay out there. I mean, Luke is going to continue to to get his rhythm and um we want him to shoot a lot of threes and he’s going to continue to get them up and uh I know Quinn’s been on them, but even Mo, like everybody that from from top to bottom, I mean, has has has done a lot. And uh I mean, you can’t you can’t credit our team wins without without everybody. But with that being said, too, I mean, I’m going to start off with O like the way he’s been shooting. I mean, it’s been crazy. I don’t know if y’all remember from a few years ago, he said, “I’mma come back with a with a jumper.” And you know, moving on, you know, next time y’all see me, I will have a jump shot. I will have a jump shot. Um, I don’t know if y’all remember him saying that or not. Uh, I do. I remember some of the comments. A lot of people probably was laughing at him, but now look at him, look and see what he’s done as far as his game, being able to space the floor, and that only helps our team offensively. and he’s been balling through this run and we’re going to need him um to play this way uh for the rest of the year. We want to go where we all we all want to go. Um so I I’m I’m so happy that he he’s coming into his own his own skin and and growing and uh shout out to all the the big coaches on court four who’ve been been with him uh Reg Epe and and and those guys. So I’m I’m happy that O’s been balling. uh he’s put a lot of work in and it’s it’s paying off. But then obviously you you see what I mean the reason why I was trying to make this call and trying to get this guy on my team this year and um and the kill there’s a reason why I was trying to get this guy on my team man like there was a reason and just from everything that he he brings to the table as far as a person um as far as a as as one of our leaders now of our team and just communicating and and making sure guys are holding guys are account holding guys accountable. Um, but not just everybody around him, himself, himself as well. And I think that just shows what type of person he is. And I mean, we haven’t been able to be on the court very much, but I’m I’m super excited to be able to be back on the court with him. And don’t expect his production to go down at all. Uh, I mean, if anything, it’s going to go up. I mean, for me, I I I want to play fast. I want to play I want to play off a guy that can create for me now. You know what I’m saying? And uh I got I got a couple I got a couple on my team that can do that. And I mean it’s going to be fun. Like I can I can play off the kill and I’m I haven’t had very many reps with them. But to to be able to have a guy who can space the floor, shoot it, guard one through four, um five if you really want him to uh just just brings so much to to the table that you can’t be anything but excited to play with a guy like that. So, I’m just excited to be back with him um here soon. And I just love what he’s been able to do throughout this run. We’ve needed everything that he’s brought these fourth quarters, these um big time shots, these big time um defensive plays. Uh he’s been a big big piece and a big reason to why we’ve we’ve won uh a lot of these games. And Jaylen, yeah, that that that boy’s a star. But don’t don’t act like I didn’t warn y’all, man. Like, I got some more clips for y’all. He’s so talented. Like he can rebound and and push it like a guard and then play above the rim like a big I mean and his ability to be better at shooting this year. It’s like it’s he should have I mean one most improved player if he would have played enough games and but he’s I mean a hell of a player. Jaylen Johnson about to make his first All-Star appearance. Like don’t don’t act like don’t act like I didn’t try to warn y’all. This dude has so much game man. like he has so much gain that I don’t even think he really understands the potential he has yet. I mean, he has so much even room more room for growth. And uh what you’ve seen from him now is just the tip of the iceberg. And obviously he’s been carrying us throughout this run and putting up crazy numbers and um playing super efficient and just playing uh the way we all know that’s been in the building around him in practices and um seeing him work out and seeing the work that he puts in and me being in LA knowing is um the guy he works out with and and Chris Johnson knowing the type of work that they put in. It’s it’s not surprising to me. Um, it may be surprising to y’all and some people out there who just who just just now starting to become some Hawks fans or just now starting to hear about Jaylen Johnson, but if you really know him or really been around him for a long time, you kind of knew that this was going to just this was going to happen at some point. It was just a matter of time for for everything to start coming together for him. And I’m just happy that he’s able to be out on the court. I think if you ask him and I ain’t I ain’t really talked about it with him too much, but uh just cuz I know he’s in a a groove and I don’t want to even talk about nothing like this, but I just I’m so happy that he’s he’s he’s playing now. I think if you ask him what the best best feeling about this stuff, everything coming for him right now, I think he would even tell you that he’s just happy he gets to play cuz when he’s on the court, everything else going to show for itself. I mean, all the work is going to show and everything else going to show for itself. So, if if he’s out there, this dude is a I mean, a perennial allstar guy who’s going to make multiple AllNBAs. I feel like if the team success is there, I mean, and that’s what I’m saying. The future is so bright for this this this kid, man. And I’m I’m just so happy that I’ve been able to be a part of it from the beginning to now. And and uh we’ll see what the future brings. But this this this kid is obviously, man. I mean, Jaylen Johnson’s a star, bro. I mean, I mean, there’s probably some women out there, but I just, man, I just I get so passionate when I talk about Jaylen. And uh I mean, I’m so happy for him. I’m happy for his family, his brother. I mean, he just has a great family, and I know the work that he puts in. And I’m glad y’all finally see the work um showing. So, I can’t wait to be out there, not only with him, but with the rest of the guys. And and I definitely can’t forget about the job Quinn has done. I mean, I think a lot of people are are overseeing the job that he’s done and his ATO’s and stuff that most hoopzes don’t even really care about, but um it’s the little things that that that make a difference and that’s where the coach comes in and and they they definitely make a difference. And I feel like Quinn’s done a great job of making sure our our our guys are ready and and things like that. So, got to give Quinn a lot of credit, too, with everybody else in our staff. And I’m just excited to be back with the guys. So, I’m ready. Now, obviously, like with this this uh this time off, I’m able to do some other things. Obviously, I have another job with being a GM. Um I’m able to watch um our team play. And uh today I get to go I get to go watch uh my team play in in uh in North Carolina and uh go watch them play Wake Forest in the ACC SEC challenge. And make sure y’all y’all tune in to watch uh watch this Oklahoma beat Wake Forest and but no, I mean it’s it’s really cool that I get to to be a GM now and be a part of something special with these these guys and I’m I’m looking forward to going going to this game today. Yeah. I mean, and I’m sure probably a lot of y’all are wondering what my like my job like entails as far as being a GM. And for me, being a player right now, I’m probably not going to be as involved as I will be when I retire long long time from now. Right now, obviously, if we have a top recruit, if we have guys that I know coach wants and we need to be we need to be all in on, I’m going to be on those calls. I’m going to be on those those meetings or hear about this kid and if I need to to get in touch with him, I will. and trying to continue to to boost our our fan base and our our sponsorships and everything like that. I feel like that’s something that I need to continue to to be a big role in help with. And one of the the coolest things and probably the one of the best things for me being in this new role as a GM is um being the the mentor I’m able to be for these these young kids coming up and uh being able to be side by side in their growth um in college and understanding and knowing their vision and their goals uh of wanting to play in the NBA, being a being a resource or being a a guy that’s that’s always right there in their corner that is going to try their their everything to to help them achieve their dreams. I think that’s the best part about me being in my position is not only do I want to see my my school, my university succeed at the highest level, win a championship, yes, but I know I can only do that with NBA talent and uh and and high level players and highlevel IQ players and and highly skilled players. And that’s why I’m here. You know what I’m saying? and I’m I’m going to be here for a long time. I I grew up in Norman since I was 5 years old. I’m I’m not going to leave Norman, Oklahoma for a long time or this role. So, my my goal is to to bring Oklahoma basketball um their first national championship. Um and trust me, I’m going to get a ring when when we do cuz um there’s nothing like winning a championship and I know it. Um, so I’m I’m looking forward to to helping be a part of just a little piece of this puzzle of of building this this championship team as we continue to build this over the years. Bringing that national championship to Oklahoma is my goal. I mean, and obviously this being the new NIL era, being that I mean, I know a little bit about playing basketball and having having some money. Like, I think at the GM at Oklahoma, I’m always trying to make sure that you got the right people around you or if if you don’t, I’m trying to help put those type of type of people around you and and help put you in the right spot. that that’s where I think I can come in and help these guys understand that it’s not just about this one year NIL deal or two years or being in college for all this time and chasing NIL deals like NIL has changed and a lot of these kids are making a lot of money but it’s not the end all be all and I feel like that’s where I can come in and help these kids understand that and that’s what I want to do. That’s what’s crazy. It’s just like when I came out, you was either after college, you were going to the NBA or you were going overseas or you were going to the G- League and trying to work your way that way. And now it’s just so many different routes and options and guys are making certain decisions and possibly bad ones just based off of the NIL deals nowadays and guys just wanting more money rather than better situations for them. Things like that I feel like can mess up a kid’s future and ultimately being an NBA player. Like I can’t tell you the the amount of guys I’ve before the NIL era that mean I mean made decisions that weren’t I mean the best school fit for them. So I can only imagine now seeing guys making the wrong money fit for them. And so now when y’all people in the media or people randomly are asking why are all these NBA players taking all these different roles and being assistant GMs now and and in these at these different universities and former players coming back is it’s because we can give these kids this this type of advice or give these type of kids that this this mentorship or the that shoulder to lean on when they have certain decisions coming up or decisions is not just about money. Decisions about everything, basketball, life, and everything that comes with I mean wanting to ultimately be in the NBA cuz I know at the end of the day that’s what a lot of these kids that come to to play college basketball, that’s what they come for is to to get to that next step. So, but there is steps that you got to take to get there. And uh that’s that’s what our our job is is to help these kids. And that’s why I’m I’m happy to be in my role. And I’m going to help a lot of kids uh achieve their dreams for sure. Last but not least, I can’t can’t forget about them them Sooners. Boomer. Yeah. Yeah. Y’all know what we doing, man. We going to the playoffs. Man, I’m just so happy we got Bren Bibles. Like Bren Bibles as our coach, man. Quick story. Quick story. When I was growing up in middle school, I used to I used to now we’re in NIL, so it doesn’t matter. I was close with somebody who um who family friend of ours who went um who was very close with us growing up. He would pick me up at it was 6:00 in the morning um on Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays and and we would go up to OU and use their practice gym at 6:00 a.m. in the morning and I would play with some adults um and it my dad would didn’t want to play at this point. So, it would be just me. He would pick me up and I was in middle school, probably sixth, seventh grade. And I would go up there and it would be a lot of lot of older guys and there was one guy in there that was always Fallon. His name was Brent Biddables. For me to it’s just hard to to put into words how full circle everything is. And u he was the defensive coach back then and he was just always super nice and very very cool with me. And he was usually on my team. uh he was he was the guy that got all the rebounds and and threw me the ball and made sure uh he set hard screens and things like that. So, you could tell he was a defensive-minded coach way back then. So, I’m glad after all these years, he’s won a few championships and now it’s time for him to to to win a championship as a head coach here at the university that um that I met him at and I know is it’s it’s home for him and I know he’s super happy and I’m I’m super happy for him and his family and uh it’s only right that uh we we get this type of success this quick and um the Sooners are back in the playoffs, baby. So, I’m I’m super happy for him. We got a great I know we didn’t end the season well offensively, but I think we were just saving it for the playoffs and uh but defense has been has been carrying us all year. And um this has been an an historic season. And um we going we going to end it end it off the right way. Um just like I said on game day, from here on out, every game soon is about 50, baby. Let’s go. I mean, I’m just going to leave here and and end it on this. There’s a lot of people out there that think they know how I feel or think they know what I I mean, what I say about things, but that’s why I’m here. And it’s it’s from the point by your favorite point. Peace.

Tune into a new episode of “From the Point” as Trae Young gives his first detailed update on his MCL sprain, discussing his physical and mental state, and recovery. Trae tackles the league-wide issue of star player injuries, speaking on the increased pace of the game and in-game rotational movement. He also shares his excitement for the Atlanta Hawks’ recent success, shouting out teammates like Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, before diving into his new role as Assistant GM for Oklahoma Basketball and how the changing landscape of NIL is affecting the future of college sports. He also shouts out OU Football, their historic season, and their CFP hopes.

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