Trae Young's imminent practice return signals a potential shift for the Hawks. His integration will test Atlanta's evolving offensive balance.
The Atlanta Hawks are beginning to see tangible progress in Trae Young’s recovery, offering cautious optimism that their four-time All-Star guard is nearing a return to the court.
The Hawks announced Saturday that Young has continued to increase his reconditioning activities and is expected to return to practice next week. The team said it will update his status as appropriate as he continues to ramp up, stopping short of providing a firm timeline for game action.
Young has been sidelined since sustaining a right knee MCL sprain on Oct. 29 during a matchup against the Brooklyn Nets. The injury occurred early in the season, limiting him to just four full games and half of the first quarter against Brooklyn before he was ruled out. Since then, Young has missed 21 consecutive games, logging only 139 total minutes this season.
His absence has reshaped Atlanta’s rotation and raised broader questions about how the team functions with and without its franchise point guard. Despite the extended injury, the Hawks have remained competitive, posting a 12-9 record during the stretch Young has been unavailable. That stretch has fueled discussion around Atlanta’s identity and offensive balance, particularly as other players have taken on expanded responsibilities.
At the same time, the Hawks have rarely been at full strength. Atlanta has played just two games this season with a completely healthy roster, leaving little opportunity to evaluate how all of the team’s primary pieces fit together. Young’s eventual return will give the coaching staff its first real chance to assess what the rotation looks like when he is reintroduced into the lineup.
In Young’s absence, forward Jalen Johnson has emerged as a central figure in the offense, often serving as the primary initiator. His expanded role has highlighted his versatility and growth, but it has also created an open question about how ball-handling and playmaking duties will be shared once Young is back in the mix. Atlanta will be tasked with blending Young’s high-usage offensive style with the progress made by Johnson and others over the past month.
The update on Young came one night after the Hawks suffered a lopsided 142-115 loss to the Detroit Pistons, a result that underscored some of Atlanta’s recent inconsistency. The Hawks have now dropped four of their last five games, including three losses to Detroit in the past month.
Detroit controlled Friday’s game from the outset, building a nine-point halftime lead before breaking it open with a dominant third quarter. The Pistons outscored Atlanta 35-19 in the period and led by as many as 30 points in the fourth quarter. Detroit shot 58.2% from the field and received contributions across the roster, including a massive night from its bench, which outscored Atlanta’s reserves 77-32.
For Atlanta, Nickeil Alexander-Walker led all scorers with 22 points, while Johnson recorded a triple-double with 19 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists. Dyson Daniels added 18 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, but the Hawks were unable to keep pace after halftime.
As Young progresses toward a return to practice, the Hawks face a delicate balance between patience and urgency. His reintroduction will come at a time when Atlanta is still searching for continuity and consistency, particularly on the offensive end. How quickly Young can regain rhythm, and how seamlessly he can be reintegrated alongside an evolving supporting cast, will go a long way toward determining the Hawks’ trajectory in the weeks ahead.