The Atlanta Hawks didn’t just lose on Tuesday night; they got embarrassed. In a brutal 120-95 beatdown by the Orlando Magic during the NBA Play-In Tournament, Atlanta fell apart late. But it was the star guard Trae Young, who stole the spotlight for all the wrong reasons after a fourth-quarter ejection, that’s now going viral for his postgame antics.
And TNT’s broadcast crew had plenty to say about it as they analyzed the “bad look.”
Trae Young Crosses the Line After Getting Tossed
With under five minutes to go in a game that was already slipping away, tensions boiled over. Atlanta was down big. The body language was ugly. And then, the moment that lit up NBA Twitter: Young, clearly frustrated, picked up his second technical and got tossed.
But instead of just heading to the tunnel quietly, Young made it extra.
As official Pat Fraher went to retrieve the ball, Young stopped it. Then he pulled it back. Then faked a pass. And finally, in full troll mode, dropped the ball to the floor and strutted off. Everyone was confused about what he was trying to do.
TNT color analysts Brian Anderson and Stan Van Gundy weren’t having any of it.
“That’s a bad look. No reason to do that,” Van Gundy said live. “He was already ejected, and then he decided to give some money to the NBA on the way out the door.”
"That's a bad look. No reason to do that."
"He was already ejected and then he decided to give some money to the NBA on the way out the door. I think that's charitable of him."
Brian Anderson and Stan Van Gundy react to Trae Young's actions after getting ejected. https://t.co/z2yydzIsAa pic.twitter.com/YpDU7SgRwc
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 16, 2025
Play-by-play man Anderson echoed the criticism, saying it set a poor example for kids watching. Van Gundy didn’t hold back either.
“Don’t do that. If you’re a player watching this, don’t dare do that.”
Bad Night for Atlanta, Even Worse for Trae Young
Let’s be real, this wasn’t just about a bad pass to a ref. It was about frustration. Young played a rough game. The Magic clamped down. And with Orlando dancing to the next round, the Hawks now have to fight just to stay alive.
They’ll face the winner of the Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls game on Friday, with the No. 8 seed in the East on the line. But here’s the kicker, Young’s temper tantrum might not just cost him money. It might cost Atlanta momentum, focus, and PR points too.
The NBA isn’t gonna let this slide. Expect a fine. Maybe a statement. Maybe more heat from the media.
Let’s not forget: this is a player who’s trying to reclaim his status as one of the league’s top young guards. But if this is how you act when things go south? The spotlight might not shine as kindly next time.
Well, the NBA stars get frustrated. It happens. Young might’ve been mad at the call. But his little standoff with the ref? Yeah, that’s a bad look.