The Atlanta Hawks will be without their NBA All-Star point guard Trae Young for a minimum of four weeks due to a ligament tear in his left pinkie finger, the team disclosed on Sunday.
Young sustained the injury in a game against Toronto on Friday night and is scheduled for surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York on Tuesday. Atlanta plans to reassess Young’s status in four weeks. Hawks coach Quin Snyder expressed his concern for Young, emphasizing the challenge his absence poses both for the player and the team.
“You feel awful for Trae more than anything,” Snyder said. “It is going to be a challenge for him not to be out there.”
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With no clear timeline for Onyeka Okongwu‘s return due to a sprained left toe, Snyder stressed the need for the team to adapt and highlighted the roles players like Kobe Bufkin and Patty Mills will need to play, alongside Dejounte Murray, in Young’s absence.
“You have to adapt,” Snyder said. “That happened when we lost Jalen [Johnson]. We have to have minutes from Kobe [Bufkin] and Patty [Mills] and we obviously know what [Dejounte Murray] can do. I don’t want to wallow in anything.”
So far this season, the Hawks have a 2-3 record in games without Young, but managed a decisive 109-92 victory over the Orlando Magic following the announcement of his injury.
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Young, who was selected for his third All-Star appearance this year, is a pivotal player for Atlanta, leading the team with averages of 26.4 points and 10.8 assists per game. Murray is expected to take over as the primary ballhandler in Young’s absence. Murray showcased his capability by nearly achieving a triple-double with 25 points, 11 assists, and 9 rebounds against Orlando, matching his season-high in assists.
Murray addressed Young’s absence with a next-man-up mentality, stressing the opportunity for other players to step up and prove their worth in the NBA.
“We don’t have any excuses. This is the NBA,” Murray said. “Obviously, we want him to get back as soon as he can. But while he’s out, next man up. That’s it. There’s opportunities for guys to show why they are in the NBA.”
