Atlanta Hawks Star Trae Young Sustains Sprained MCL

Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young sustained a sprained MCL in his right knee and will be re-evaluated in four weeks, sources told ESPN. Young, 27, underwent an MRI on Friday, and multiple doctor reviews showed he dodged major structural damage in the knee.

Trae Young Sustained a Sprained MCL

Trae Young is no stranger to the spotlight. Young, who was drafted by his hometown team, the Dallas Mavericks, with the fifth overall pick of the 2018 NBA Draft, has been shining in Atlanta since the Mavericks’ trade for Luka Doncic. He’s a four-time NBA All-Star in 2020, 2022, 2024, and 2025 and an NBA assists leader in 2025.

He’s one of the Hawks’ best players in recent years. The Hawks are currently rebuilding while struggling on defense, one of several factors hindering their overall performance. That being said, his injury, a sprained MCL in his right knee, is hurting the team for the time being.

He entered Wednesday’s game averaging 20.8 points and 9.5 assists. The Hawks closely defeated the Brooklyn Nets 117-112 at Barclays Center. He stood under the basket when his teammate Mouhamed Gueye, after being pushed in the chest by Nets forward Noah Clowney, fell backward and into his leg, sending him crashing to the ground.

He was down for a while in pain before getting to his feet and jogging to the bench. He remained in the game once play resumed, but head coach Quin Snyder took him out 17 seconds after seeing him on the court for a few moments.

Final Thoughts

Trae Young’s outlook for the 2025-26 NBA season is uncertain with his injury. It’s unclear when he’ll return to the court, but the Hawks will be without their floor general for now. The Hawks avoided a late collapse against the Nets and will take on the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on Sunday at 6:00 p.m. Eastern.