The Atlanta Hawks are having a less‑than‑impressive run in the 2025-26 NBA season. They hold a 14-12 record and currently sit ninth in the Eastern Conference standings. One of the biggest issues for the Hawks this year, however, has been constant injuries to key players.
At the moment, they have six players on the injury report, including franchise star Trae Young. However, there is finally some good news for Atlanta fans regarding Young’s status.
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NBA Insider Shares Positive News Regarding Trae Young
According to NBA insider Michael Scotto, the Hawks believe Young is expected to return to practice sometime next week. The update suggests he has been making steady progress in his recovery and has gradually ramped up his conditioning work.
Team officials are also pleased with how his rehab has progressed, as he has increased on-court activity without any setbacks. No exact return date has been confirmed, but this development is a clear step forward for both Young and the Hawks.
The Atlanta Hawks say Trae Young is expected to return to practice next week. Young has continued to increase his reconditioning activities. He originally suffered a right knee MCL sprain on October 29th against the Brooklyn Nets. pic.twitter.com/WhvWPmKAwZ
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) December 13, 2025
Young suffered the injury on Oct. 29 during a game against the Brooklyn Nets, which Atlanta won. The incident occurred in the first quarter when Young collided with teammate Mouhamed Gueye near the baseline. Gueye lost his balance after contact, fell backward, and crashed directly into Young’s right knee.
The awkward collision caused Young’s knee to bend unnaturally, and he fell to the floor in visible pain. He immediately grabbed his knee and was eventually helped off the court and taken to the locker room.
Due to the injury, Young was limited to seven minutes of action in that game and scored six points. Two days later, Young underwent an MRI, which brought some relief to the Hawks. The scan showed he had suffered a sprained MCL in his right knee, but there was no serious structural damage. To date, Young has missed a total of 21 games due to the injury. Before going down, he was averaging 17.8 points, 7.8 assists and two rebounds per game.
In the game in which Young was injured, the Hawks were in control from the start. They led by seven points at the end of the first quarter and carried a 13-point advantage into halftime. In the second half, Atlanta scored 53 points, which proved too much for the Nets to overcome in a 117–112 loss.
In Young’s absence, other players have stepped up to keep the Hawks competitive. Jalen Johnson has taken on a larger scoring role and is averaging 23.2 points per game. Meanwhile, Nickeil Alexander-Walker has also been a major contributor, averaging 20.7 points per game. While it remains to be seen exactly when Young will return to game action, the latest update offers real hope.