Trae Young says Knicks fans fueled him during Hawks' playoff exit

The former Atlanta guard, now with Washington, explained on a podcast how New York's crowd and physical play became motivation in the first-round series.

Trae Young revisited Atlanta's 4-1 loss to the New York Knicks in the opening round of the playoffs, telling the Curious Mike podcast that the hostile Madison Square Garden crowd served as extra motivation during the series.

Young, a four-time All-Star, spoke with Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. about how he embraced the villain role in New York. He argued that drawing fouls is a genuine skill, noting that opponents who play overly physical end up in foul trouble while putting his team into the bonus.

"If you was on my team, you would appreciate it. My teammates love being in the bonus, getting fouled," Young said, adding that the league's top players attempt the most free throws.

The guard was highly efficient at the line in the series, converting 91.9% of his free throws. In Game 5, he scored 36 points and hit 13 of 15 foul shots in a 103-89 win that closed out the series.

Young has since been traded to the Washington Wizards, and the Hawks honored him with a video tribute when he returned to Atlanta as a visitor. He previously guided the franchise to the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals, where Milwaukee eliminated Atlanta in six games.