It feels unreal that he’s that old.to me he’s my baby. To this day, three years into his career, he remains very aware of what is said about him and who is considered "better." After making the NBA's All-Rookie team and being voted an All-Star starter in year two, his All-Star snub this year was "noted.My little man is 7 today. "Every time he's been confronted with those questions, he's responded at the highest of levels," said Kruger.īy the time Trae entered the league, the chip on his shoulder had become a boulder. Many wondered if he could withstand the physicality of the pros. But as the NBA draft approached, there still were question marks.ĭuring the draft process, Kruger said he was littered with questions from NBA scouts and executives about Trae's athleticism, size and strength. Scouts originally pegged Trae as a late first- or early second-round pick, and he spent his freshman year leapfrogging prospects who outranked him in high school. He broke the Big 12 freshman scoring record held by Kevin Durant and Michael Beasley. He finished the season leading the country in both points and assists per game. He was the most dominant guard in the conference.
He proved that it didn't matter where he played. At Oklahoma State, he'd see pictures of giant birds, an admitted phobia. "Overrated" chants were routine in Lubbock for games against Texas Tech. He took note and used it as motivation.Īfter choosing Oklahoma over other rival schools in the midwest, Trae Young would regularly hear the disrespect from opposing crowds. Yet still, Young finished his high school career as the fourth-ranked point guard in his class by both 247 and ESPN, behind Sexton, Trevon Duval and Jaylen Hands. The tournament also featured other highly touted guards such as Collin Sexton, Hamidou Diallo, Tremont Waters and Matt Coleman.
And he told all the high school guards, ‘You're about to see in a few weeks, I'm the best point guard here and I have the best team in the country,'" Perry said to B/R, grinning ear-to-ear.Ī few weeks later, Trae and his Mokan Elite squad won Peach Jam. All the top high school and college guards were there. "We went to CP3 camp, and it was just a few weeks before the NIKE EYBL Peach Jam tournament. He made it a point to outplay all of his peers. His AAU coach, Rodney Perry, remembers how Trae resented not being considered the top point guard in his class. "He was second fiddle to Michael Porter Jr.," said Ray. In fact, he wasn't even viewed as the top prospect on his AAU team. In high school, Trae earned the attention of national recruiting services but was never regarded as the top point guard in his class because of his size. "Trae and I have had many talks over the years just sitting down on the couch watching playoff games, watching Michael Jordan, watching Kobe, watching LeBron play and telling him, ‘That can be you, it doesn't matter how big or tall you are if you believe it.'" But he never got the attention or hype of rival prospects such as Mike Bibby, Andre Miller and Baron Davis. Over his career, he averaged 14.1 points, 3.8 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game. Ray had a great career at Texas Tech from 1996 to 2000. "I played at Texas Tech and am 5'11" on a good day." And the chip on his shoulder began to grow.
Trae understood that what he lacked in height, he had in heart. "I can't thank CP enough for showing my son that you don't have to be the tallest guy or this super-duper freak athlete to play this game at a high level." "My son's first real taste of watching a real live NBA point guard play was Chris Paul," Ray recalled. He became obsessed with another undersized point guard's game. When Hurricane Katrina forced the New Orleans Hornets to relocate to Oklahoma City, Trae and his father became regulars at the Ford Center, now known as Chesapeake Energy Arena. I can't express enough what it is like when you've been the smallest guy on the court your whole life," Ray told Bleacher Report on Tuesday.Įveryone was quick to call Trae a villain on Sunday, but what is a villain? What are we really talking about? For Trae Young, it's the confidence that comes with being great no matter what outsiders think or say or chant. Indeed, he's been doing it his whole basketball career, going all the way back to his AAU days.