Trae Young defends foul-drawing style, bristles at opponents lobbying refs

The Wizards point guard says teammates value the bonus he creates and argues elite players live at the free throw line.

Washington Wizards guard Trae Young addressed his reputation for drawing fouls in a recent conversation with Michael Porter Jr., a longtime friend who now plays for the Brooklyn Nets.

Young said teammates appreciate his style because it puts the team in the bonus, adding that when defenders get overly physical, he uses it to his advantage. He also noted that the league's best players tend to attempt the most free throws.

What bothers him most, Young said, is when opponents complain about him directly to officials during games.

Young joined the Wizards in a trade from the Atlanta Hawks last season and is entering his first full campaign as Washington's starting point guard. The 2026-27 season begins in less than a month.

The Wizards acquired Anthony Davis this offseason and selected AJ Dybantsa with the first overall pick in June's draft.