Trae Young Is Dominating These NBA Playoffs Like Few Players Ever Have

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The NBA Playoffs can completely change the narrative around a player. It seems to happen every year. Guys either cement themselves as legit stars who you can build around, and others get exposed for being frauds. Think of how Kawhi ascended over the years, the perception of guys like James Harden and Paul George or what is currently happening with Ben Simmons. That's the playoffs. Part of why this season's playoff run has been so enjoyable is the fact that we're seeing how the new wave of talent does in these high pressure situations. 

Which brings me to Trae Young.

People LOVE to slander Trae Young. Or at least they did before he decided to shut everyone up with this playoff run. It's very close for me in terms of who is the biggest winner so far this postseason between him and Devin Booker, another first time playoff guy. The thing with Trae though, we're seeing shit that should break your brain. Every night he's getting better and better. Whether it's what you see in real time while he carves up another higher seed

Or what you learn after the fact once all the tweets come in. Every one seems more ridiculous than the last

It's hard to imagine that Trae Young could play any better…and then he somehow does. Suddenly, that Trae/Luka trade looks like something where both teams legitimately feel great about their situation. When has that ever happened where both guys ended up looking like generational talents? Imagine what would be going on right now if Luka was having the exact same playoff run that Trae Young is having? I think Young said it best himself

I can't think of a guy that has earned more of an apology from the masses than Trae Young. Not only is he must watch, but he's winning. That's always been the most important thing right? He went from being this good stats bad team guy to a legit centerpiece around a team that is on the way to making the goddamn NBA Finals. As an undersized point guard. Normally that gets exposed in the playoffs (See: Kemba), but when your offense is at such a high level you can sustain it. I wouldn't say Young has been this gigantic defensive liability that he was often plagued as before he ever made the playoffs. Instead, he's completely controlling these games and rubbing it in your face while he beats you. How could anyone not love that?

No matter what happens the rest of these playoffs, the entire narrative around Trae Young has now been changed forever. That's pretty wild. Young players don't usually have this type of success right away. Almost every young star throughout history has to go through growing pains once they get to the postseason. Trae Young entered the chat and decided he wanted no part of that, he'd rather just dominate. Crush a different fanbase's title dreams without a care in the world. 

Who knows how much longer this run is going to last, but you'd be silly to think it's ending any time soon.