After some bad news regarding Onyeka Okongwu’s future availability yesterday, today a report regarding Trae Young provided no respite. Per the Atlanta Hawks, Young suffered an injury that will require surgery and force him out for at least four weeks.
An @emoryhealthcare injury update:
During Friday’s game, Trae Young suffered a left-hand injury. He underwent an MRI yesterday, which revealed a tear of the radial collateral ligament (RCL) in the fifth finger of his left hand. He will undergo surgery to repair the RCL on… pic.twitter.com/V0OXvUGCBv
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) February 25, 2024
As Kevin Chouinard — writer for the Atlanta Hawks flagship site and host governor of the ATL and 29 podcast — notes, he believes the injury was suffered late in the last game against the Raptors as Young tried to intercept a pass.
I believe that this play was the one where Trae Young injured his finger. pic.twitter.com/v3YOoBgaod
— Kevin Chouinard (@KLChouinard) February 25, 2024
He was seen grimacing on the next offensive possession after passing the ball.
Until that play, things had progressed normally. Next offensive possession, you can see him react after passing the ball.
He fiddled with his left hand on the next two Hawks possessions. Exited for normal rest, worked with trainers on that hand, before returning for final 4:56. pic.twitter.com/i0Sb4RvHO6
— Kevin Chouinard (@KLChouinard) February 25, 2024
With the season quickly winding down, this may mean a season-ending injury for the franchise pillar point guard. Young was named to his third career All-Star Game and is averaging 26.0 points and 10.7 assists per game, the only player in the NBA averaging at least 25 and 10 this season.