Now, superstar Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young has done it to New Yorkers once again. This joint engagement takes place despite the fact that he is not directly competing against them in this playoff season. On Sunday, during Game 7 of the OKC-Denver series, Young went to X through a game of musical chairs that elicited a smile from the audience as he took an unexpected, implicit dig at his familiar adversaries. This fun back-and-forth exemplifies the intense competitive juices flowing from Young to the Knicks. It has ramped up ever since their head-to-head meetings in the 2021 postseason.
Young and the Hawks didn’t make the playoffs this year. Though they dropped both of their play-in tournament games, Young’s ties to the Knicks have only deepened. That season, New York had won the season series versus Atlanta, taking three of five games. On the heels of this season’s surprising success, the Knicks reached their first Eastern Conference finals since the 1999-2000 season. This major milestone is a huge win for the franchise.
Young’s rivalry with the Knicks intensified during last year’s postseason when he led the Hawks to a memorable victory over New York in the first round. The Hawks finished off the series in just five games. Following his team’s clinching, epic Game 5 on the road, Young bowed down on the court in celebration. Anti-Trae Young chants have echoed through Madison Square Garden ever since. This continued even in a Christmas day matchup when Young didn’t play. This ongoing duet has kept the animosity between Young and New Yorkers fueled and flourishing.
In his latest online comment, Young’s quip during the Thunder-Nuggets game reflects how he continues to engage with fans of the Knicks, who have been vocal about their disdain for him. His Twitter account injects a big dose of humor into the rivalry. That highlights his unusual sensitivity to the external story being told about him and his players.
The Atlanta Hawks hope to overcome adversity this season, though they are hellbent on their defiance. On the other hand, Young’s incredible legacy in his postseason matchups against the Knicks will definitely last. As the Knicks celebrate their return to prominence in the Eastern Conference, Young’s playful taunts are a reminder that their rivalry is far from over.
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