The Atlanta Hawks are officially out of the NBA postseason picture after falling to the Miami Heat in the second round of the Play-In Tournament, 123–114. Their playoff hopes were already on shaky ground after a costly loss to the Orlando Magic, a game that saw star point guard Trae Young ejected. Following the elimination, Young addressed the team’s future with a tone of both frustration and determination.
The Hawks’ franchise cornerstone has never been shy about his desire to win. But after back-to-back seasons without a playoff appearance, questions are mounting about his long-term outlook in Atlanta. During the team’s end-of-season media availability, Young made it clear: he still believes in what this team can become.
“Of course,” Young said when asked if he thinks he can win in Atlanta. “We’re one of the 30 NBA teams. I feel like you can win here. I’ve won here before. I haven’t won a championship, but I’ve achieved a lot of things here. I know what it takes; I can definitely win here.”
Young didn’t sugarcoat his disappointment, either. “I think it’s okay to be upset about it,” he said. “I don’t think it’s okay to be okay with losing. I’m upset about it. I’m not happy that I’m talking to y’all at the end of the season right now—I wish it was later. It’s okay for it to be upsetting, but you’ve got to do something to change it. For me, I just want to win, and you’ve got to do whatever you need to to make that happen.”
Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks handles the ball against the New York Knicks during the third quarter
Looking ahead: what’s next for the Hawks?
After a crushing loss to the Heat, Young is already looking ahead to next season. While he’s confident the team can bounce back, he emphasized the need for honest evaluation and strategic adjustments.
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“We all look at the season differently,” Young said. “For me personally, not making the playoffs is a failure, no matter who is out there. No matter how much adversity or how many injuries we faced, I still felt like we had a good enough group to make the playoffs.”
Despite a season riddled with inconsistency, the Hawks still managed to reach 40 wins and came within striking distance of the NBA postseason. But with Young entering the final guaranteed year of his contract, the spotlight now turns to his future in Atlanta. Will he commit to an extension—or let the situation play out? One thing is clear: if the Hawks want to keep their star, the time to build a real contender is now.
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