The Atlanta Hawks began the season with high hopes after making key offseason moves to strengthen the roster around point guard Trae Young.
They acquired 2024 NBA champion Kristaps Porziņģis from the Boston Celtics, added guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker via sign-and-trade, and signed sharpshooter Luke Kennard in free agency.
The Hawks started 15-12 but faced a major issue: a knee injury to Young that sidelined him for 22 games and potentially has his future with the Hawks in doubt.
What Happened to Trae Young?
Young played the first five games, but logged just seven minutes in the fifth – a 117-112 win over the Brooklyn Nets – before exiting with a knee injury. He has not played since. Diagnosed with a right MCL sprain, Young has been sidelined since October 29.
In five games, Young averaged 17.8 points and 7.8 assists, shooting 37.1% from the floor and 19.2% from three – career lows in each category. The Hawks went 13-9 without Young, a solid mark with their star sidelined. With that in mind, the question is how much longer Young will be out.
When Will Young Return to the Court?
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Young will return to the court on Thursday night against the Charlotte Hornets.
“Atlanta’s Trae Young – out since Oct. 29 with a sprained MCL – will make his return tonight against the Charlotte Hornets, sources tell ESPN,” writes Charania. “The Hawks went 13-9 without Young and now get their starting point guard back.”
Atlanta’s Trae Young – out since Oct. 29 with a sprained MCL – will make his return tonight against the Charlotte Hornets, sources tell ESPN. The Hawks went 13-9 without Young and now get their starting point guard back.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 18, 2025
Young was listed as questionable for Thursday night’s game against the Hornets, but was a full participant in Hawks’ practice on Wednesday and scrimmaged with the Hawks’ G-League affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks, on Tuesday.
Young is eager to return, bolstered by improved conditioning. “It’s my knee, something that had to take a little more time than some other injuries,” Young told reporters after practice in Atlanta on Wednesday via Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. “… I feel good. [My conditioning is] going to get better as you play. They wouldn’t even allow me to come back or even be close to coming back if my conditioning wasn’t right or close to it.”
Young has been impressed with the Hawks in his absence and wants to help fill the gaps. “I see certain things that our team is doing really good that I want to keep allowing our team to do,” Young told reporters. “But then there are times when we are struggling or times when it looks kind of tough on guys, and I want to make it easier for them.” The Hawks will tip off against the Hornets at 7:00 p.m. ET on Thursday.
