Trae Young has played just five games so far for the Atlanta Hawks this season but he could return soon for them.
The four-time All-Star suffered an MCL during game against the Brooklyn Nets on October 29. The latest step he’s taken in his recovery is playing for Atlanta’s G League affiliate College Park Skyhawks and he’s shown that he is about to be ready for the NBA action.
He has also joined team practices.
Hawks Trae Young back at practice today after a long absence and working out with the Skyhawks yesterday.
Based on the reaction, looks like Young won the end of practice shooting competition. pic.twitter.com/b8YlSan2jv
— Lauren L. Williams (@WilliamsLaurenL) December 17, 2025
Young, who was upgraded to questionable for the Charlotte Hornets game on Thursday, said he is feeling good about his body.
“It’s my knee, something that had to take a little more time than some other injuries … I feel good,” Young said in an interview with ESPN on Tuesday.
“[My conditioning is] going to get better as you play. They wouldn’t even allow me to come back or even be close to coming back if my conditioning wasn’t right or close to it.”
Hawks will play a back-to-back this week. They will take on the San Antonio Spurs after the Hornets game and then play the Chicago Bulls twice in three days.
Trae Young hopes to add something to ‘good’ Hawks
The Hawks are doing relatively despite not having their star. Main big man Kristaps Porzing is also barely there for them.
This is huge thanks to the rise of Jalen Johnson and the team’s overall great chemistry. Another player stepping up for them is Nickeil Alexander-Walker who is their second best scorer next to Johmson.
Hawks reporter Kevin Chouinard asked Young if there will be a change in his approach as the star of the team with the current they are having and Young said not much as he is only a piece of the puzzle.
“Since Day One I’ve always felt like I was a puzzle piece to the big puzzle.” https://t.co/mHIx3dvHam pic.twitter.com/8YT5jgjmf2
— Caleb Johnson (@ATLjohnson18) December 17, 2025
“Yes and no. I knew as the season would go on, like, I knew we were going to find certain things that we would all need to do – and all could do – to help our team be better,” he responded.
“Obviously, being out, I see certain things that our team is doing really good, and I want to keep allowing our team to do (them) and make sure our team is doing those things.”
What he emphasized he can do is what every point guard does.
But then there are times obviously where we’re struggling, or there are times where it looks kind of tough on some of the guys and I just want to make it easier for them.
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