Since his rise to stardom at Oklahoma’s Norman North High School, Hawks guard Trae Young has thrived in the villain role. Seven years into his NBA career, Young has embraced the villain role for one of sports’ biggest fanbases.
For the better part of the last five years, Young has been public enemy No. 1 in the eyes of Knicks fans. Young does not even have to be involved to be on New York fans’ minds, as his name has been the subject of NSFW chants from Knicks fans during last year’s playoff series with the 76ers and even during Yankees games.
Given the energy Young receives from the New York fan base, it’s fair to ask what he did to make everyone that mad. There’s a deep history between the two parties that will again receive new life when Young and the Hawks travel to Madison Square Garden to face the Knicks in the NBA Cup quarterfinals.
Here’s how Young became a modern-day Reggie Miller in the eyes of New York faithful.
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Trae Young-Knicks beef, explained
The beef between Young and the Knicks fanbase dates back to at least the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs.
After the COVID-19 pandemic shortened the 2020-21 NBA season and limited capacities at certain arenas, No. 4 New York drew No. 5 Atlanta in the playoffs. It was the Knicks’ first playoff series in eight years and marked a new benchmark for capacity allowed at Madison Square Garden.
As the series got going, Young was met with “F— Trae Young!” chants from a large group of fans in attendance.
Young wasted no time playing spoiler, draining a game-winning floater to help the Hawks steal home-court advantage in Game 1. In true villain form, Young shushed the MSG crowd and visibly said, “It’s quiet as f— in here,” while the camera panned to the looks of dejected fans.
TIME WINDING DOWN.
TRAE YOUNG FLOATS IT UP.@ATLHawks WIN GAME 1.#TrueToAtlanta #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/hlaSHajFQo— NBA (@NBA) May 24, 2021
“Everybody’s chanting F-U,” Young said during his postgame interview. “It got real quiet at the end and for me, I wanted to hear those F-U chants again.”
As he walked to the locker room, Young again noted that it got “real quiet” in the arena.
“Next one.”🤫🤫
–@TheTraeYoung pic.twitter.com/e41Knsyl53
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) May 24, 2021
In Game 2, Atlanta’s star guard was met with more NSFW chants. He seemed to relish them and later put a bow on his villain origin story by bowing to the fans after draining a dagger to close New York out in Game 5.
HAWKS WIN! pic.twitter.com/LFiFxRVBDF
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) June 3, 2021
From that point forward, Young has been the subject of Knicks fans’ ire. As a proud member of Kobe Bryant’s “Mamba” lineage, Young continues to embrace that villain role. After leading the Hawks to a home win over the Knicks in the first month of the 2024-25 season, Young had a special message to the New York fans in attendance.
“I hope the New York fans find their way to the exit real real quick,” Young said during his in-arena walk-off interview. Young mocked the boos he received from those select fans before telling them “Take y’all ass home.”
Trae said go home 😂 pic.twitter.com/l1OoKhwvVF
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) November 7, 2024
Just over one month later, Young will be back at Madison Square Garden for an NBA Cup elimination game. It’s not quite the NBA Playoffs — but with a trip to Las Vegas on the line, it may feel like one.
As the chants pour down and Young taps into a different level of villainy, remember the origins of the rivalry date back to 2021.
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