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Trae Young, Hawks have golden opportunity in NBA Cup semis

AP photo by Brynn Anderson / Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young walks off the court after the team's home win against the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 6 to reach the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup. The Lakers won the inaugural edition of the in-season tournament in 2023.
AP photo by Brynn Anderson / Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young walks off the court after the team's home win against the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 6 to reach the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup. The Lakers won the inaugural edition of the in-season tournament in 2023. AP photo by Brynn Anderson / Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young walks off the court after the team's home win against the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 6 to reach the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup. The Lakers won the inaugural edition of the in-season tournament in 2023.

By TIM REYNOLDS / The Associated Press 5 min read

LAS VEGAS — Trae Young might be the NBA’s biggest enigma.

Young’s fans can point to numbers and say the 6-foot-1, 164-pound guard is an elite player. His detractors can point to numbers and say the three-time NBA All-Star is overrated. Both arguments have validity.

To some, his cocky ways are endearing. To others, they’re infuriating.

This can’t be argued: At age 26, the former lottery draft pick is helping Atlanta author one of the season’s surprise stories. The Hawks are in the NBA Cup semifinals, set to play the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday in Las Vegas (4:30 p.m. Eastern on TNT and TruTV) before the nightcap between the Houston Rockets and the Oklahoma City Thunder (8:30 on ABC).

The winners will meet Tuesday night in the title game of the second edition of the annual in-season tournament.