During the Atlanta Hawks’ matchup against the Boston Celtics, the Celtics broadcast team delivered a hilarious and brutal jab at Trae Young, even though the star guard was no longer on the Hawks roster.
After more than seven seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, Trae Young was traded to the Washington Wizards as part of Atlanta’s full franchise reset. While Young dazzled offensively throughout his time in Atlanta, his defensive shortcomings were well-documented, often ranking him among the league’s weakest defenders.
Those defensive struggles became the punchline once again on Friday night. With Young sidelined, the Celtics’ broadcast crew couldn’t resist taking a savage shot at the four-time All-Star.
“The vibes are immaculate in Atlanta… They play defense and pass the ball… All things that Trae Young doesn’t do,” the broadcaster quipped.
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The comment drew laughs and quickly went viral, perfectly capturing the long-standing criticism Young faced during his Hawks tenure.
Prior to the trade, Young appeared in 10 games for Atlanta this season, averaging 19.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 8.9 assists before knee and quadriceps injuries sidelined him. His defensive limitations, combined with the Hawks’ desire for a complete rebuild, ultimately led to his departure from the franchise he had led for years.
Meanwhile, the Washington Wizards had high hopes when they acquired Young. They went all-in on a potential star duo by also bringing in Anthony Davis at the trade deadline, with reports indicating the front office had already begun mapping out long-term plans for the pair, including future contract extensions.
However, those ambitions have been put on hold for this season due to injuries. Young has been ruled out indefinitely with a right quadriceps bruise and lower-back irritation after playing just five games for Washington. He suffered the quad injury during a matchup against the Golden State Warriors and has since missed six straight games. Anthony Davis has also been sidelined while recovering from ligament damage in his right hand.
Wizards fans will likely have to wait until next season to see the full potential of the Young–Davis partnership in Washington.
The Celtics broadcast’s savage diss served as a timely reminder of why Atlanta ultimately decided to move on from their former franchise centerpiece.