Trae Young Joins NBA All-Star Game as Injury Replacement
In a twist of fate that has Atlanta Hawks fans buzzing, Trae Young is headed to the NBA All-Star Game after all. The announcement came on Monday from Commissioner Adam Silver, who revealed that Young would be stepping in as an injury replacement for Milwaukee forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. Antetokounmpo, unfortunately, will be sitting out due to a calf injury.
Young’s initial reaction to being left out of the All-Star selections was one of disappointment. He took to social media to express his feelings, coining the term “getting ‘Traed'” to describe his snub. But now, as the NBA’s assist leader this season, Young is set to make his fourth All-Star appearance. The All-Star Game, which has taken on a new format as a mini-tournament of three games, is scheduled for Sunday in San Francisco.
Young will be joining Team Chuck, an eight-man squad drafted by TNT analyst Charles Barkley. Antetokounmpo was originally the fourth of the 24 players drafted by Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenny Smith for the All-Star rosters. Young’s addition to the team brings a dynamic playmaker to a roster already rich with international talent.
Team Chuck’s International Roster
- Nikola Jokic (Serbia) from Denver
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada) from Oklahoma City
- Victor Wembanyama (France) from San Antonio
- Pascal Siakam (Cameroon) from Indiana
- Alperen Sengun (Turkey) from Houston
- Karl-Anthony Towns (whose mother is Dominican) from New York
- Donovan Mitchell (whose mother is from Panama) from Cleveland
Young’s prowess as a playmaker is undeniable. He leads the NBA in assists per game, averaging 11.4, which is significantly ahead of Jokic’s 10.3 per game. This marks the second consecutive year that Young has been added to the All-Star roster as an injury replacement, having also made appearances in 2020 and 2022.
As the All-Star Game approaches, there’s anticipation that Commissioner Silver will need to make at least one more injury replacement pick. Forward Anthony Davis left his debut with the Mavericks with an injury on Saturday. According to sources, including ESPN’s Shams Charania, Davis is expected to sit out multiple weeks due to an adductor strain.
Davis was set to play on Team Shaq, which boasts a star-studded lineup including his former Los Angeles Lakers teammate LeBron James, Golden State’s Stephen Curry, Boston’s Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Phoenix’s Kevin Durant, Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard, and the Los Angeles Clippers’ James Harden.
Meanwhile, Team Kenny features a mix of rising stars and established talents, including Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, New York’s Jalen Brunson, Memphis’ Jaren Jackson Jr., Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams, Cleveland’s Darius Garland and Evan Mobley, Detroit’s Cade Cunningham, and Miami’s Tyler Herro.
Originally Written by: ESPN.com
