"It's like driving a car after 6 months" – Trae Young says NBA players should stay ready year-round

“It’s like driving a car after 6 months” – Trae Young says NBA players should stay ready year-round originally appeared on Basketball Network.

Trae Young looks forward to the offseason, a time he admits helps his body recover from a gruelling season of playing competitive ball. And while most see it as a chance for players to rest and relax, the 5th overall pick of the 2018 Draft shares that this is not entirely the case for him.

Young admits that even during break, he makes it a point to pay attention to his body. He is careful not to relax too much, aware that he would have to get back into game shape at some point. To explain it better, he compared the situation to car maintenance.

“It’s like driving a car after 6 months. It may not start. You can’t just not use it,” the Hawks guard said on the “From The Point” podcast.

Hence, Trae explains why he tries to do the little things even during the offseason. He makes sure to do some stretching, get massages and perform other recovery routines. By doing these, he is preparing his body for the grind, especially once the tedious preparations for the new season draw near.

“For me, you’ve got to always constantly do little things here and there. Make sure you’re getting your stretches in. Make sure you get a massage. I constantly get massages and things like that on your body,” the four-time All-Star shared.

No injuries to worry about

Young has had his share of injuries in his career. However, most were minor and not career-altering. Trae is thankful that he has been spared from this and believes it’s proof that he is taking care of his body efficiently.

“I’ll admit I’ve had some luck with not getting injured but I also do take care of my body. I make sure, especially when we are getting closer to the season that I’m getting more rest,” he stated.

Looking at his career run, Young has yet to play a full 82-game season. The most he has played was in his rookie year (81) and the least was in the 2023-24 season (54). It was in the 2023-24 season when Young was nursing an Achilles heel injury, something that thankfully did not get worse.

Being the top star for the Hawks, Young is aware that his availability will be key for Atlanta to do well. After missing the playoffs the past two seasons, “Ice Trae” hopes his team will fare better in the 2024-25 season.

Hawks looking to soar again

The deepest postseason run that the Hawks achieved in the Trae Young era was during the 2021 playoffs. They reached the Eastern Conference Finals but lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games.

After that run, things turned sour for the franchise. But with Young shifting to a team-first mindset, the 2025-26 season could be promising.

“I’m trying to focus on winning. I’m trying to get back to where I’ve been before and even further. It’s whatever it takes. Whatever it takes to help our team be more successful,” the 6’1″ guard admitted.

Aware that he cannot carry the Hawks alone, Trae admitted he did his share of recruiting, particularly targeting Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard. Alexander-Walker agreed to a four-year deal while Kennard came to terms with the Hawks for one year.

After two disappointing seasons, there is nowhere to go but up for Trae and the Hawks. The new faces look promising, but it remains anyone’s guess if this will be enough to help Atlanta win an NBA title.

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 25, 2025, where it first appeared.

“It’s like driving a car after 6 months” – Trae Young says NBA players should stay ready year-round

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