Trae Young’s Frustration Boils Over in Hawks’ Play-In Loss
April 15, 2025, was a night to remember for the Atlanta Hawks, but perhaps not for the reasons they would have hoped. The spotlight was on Trae Young, the star guard of the Atlanta Hawks, who found himself ejected from the game against the Orlando Magic. The incident occurred with 4:47 left on the clock, and it was a moment that left fans and analysts buzzing.
Young, known for his exceptional ball-handling skills and sharp passes, found himself in hot water when he directed his frustration at the referees. The NBA didn’t take kindly to his actions, stating that he was “making a mockery of the game.” It all started when Young, visibly frustrated with the game’s proceedings, threw a hard chest pass at referee James Williams. This earned him his first technical foul. Moments later, he deflected the ball with his foot and refused to hand it over promptly to referee Pat Fraher, resulting in a second technical foul and an automatic ejection.
Referee James Williams explained the situation to a pool reporter after the game, saying, “Trae Young received his first unsportsmanlike technical foul for throwing the ball at a game official.” When asked about the second technical, Williams added, “He received his second unsportsmanlike technical foul for kicking the ball away and making a mockery of the game as we were attempting to shoot the free throw for the first technical foul and by rule when the player receives two unsportsmanlike fouls he’s ejected from the game.”
At the time of Young’s ejection, the Hawks were trailing by 22 points, and they eventually lost the game 120-95. In the postgame interview, Young explained his actions, stating that his frustration was not just for himself but also for his teammates, particularly Dyson Daniels. “Sometimes when I take my frustration out on the refs it’s not just for me,” Young said. “It’s for my teammates. I see Dyson Daniels going; he may not be a household name yet, but he deserves the same amount of respect as some of these other guys. If you see a foul, you should call a foul. That’s pretty much all it was for me.”
The game statistics showed that Orlando was whistled for 25 personal fouls compared to Atlanta’s 18, with the Hawks taking 34 free throws while the Magic took 27. Young expressed his concerns about the physicality of the game, saying, “They’re a physical team. I’ve had two teammates hurt this year in one game against them. I’m not going to call them dirty players or anything like that. I think they have a lot of talented players. But a lot of the plays and the moments … it’s not even necessarily basketball at that point. I think that’s where the frustration got.”
Looking ahead, the Hawks are set to host either Chicago or Miami on Friday to determine the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference. The winner will face No. 1 Cleveland in the first round of the playoffs. The Bulls and Heat are scheduled to play an elimination game in Chicago on Wednesday. Young is determined to keep his cool in the upcoming game, stating, “I’m not going to let the refs frustrate me like that in our next game. I know we’ve got to win or go home next game, and I’m going to be ready.”
Meanwhile, Orlando’s victory secured them the No. 7 seed and a first-round matchup with the No. 2 seed Boston, the defending NBA champion. Hawks coach Quin Snyder acknowledged the importance of Young maintaining his composure, saying, “The importance of him keeping his cool, he addressed that already with our team. He’s quick to own that. But the game was out of hand at that point anyway.”
Despite the loss, Young led all scorers with 28 points, showcasing his undeniable talent on the court. As the Hawks prepare for their next challenge, fans will be watching closely to see how Young and his team respond to the pressure of a win-or-go-home scenario.
- Trae Young ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct
- Hawks lose to Magic 120-95
- Upcoming game against Chicago or Miami to decide No. 8 seed
- Orlando secures No. 7 seed, faces Boston in Round 1
Originally Written by: ESPN.com
