Trae Young

Young is an American guard who has established himself as one of the most prolific offensive players in the NBA since being selected fifth overall in the 2018 draft. Known as Ice Trae, he has earned multiple All-Star selections and led Atlanta to deep playoff runs before moving to Washington.

Born Rayford Trae Young on September 19, 1998, in Lubbock, Texas, he is the son of Candice and Rayford Young, who played at Texas Tech and professionally in Europe. He was raised in Pampa, Texas, by his mother and paternal grandparents while his father played overseas.

Young attended Norman North High School in Norman, Oklahoma. As a sophomore, he averaged 25 points, five assists, and four rebounds and was named Oklahoma's Sophomore of the Year. As a junior, he averaged 34.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.6 assists and led Norman North to a 28–4 record. As a senior, he averaged 42.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.1 assists. He committed to Oklahoma on February 16, 2017, becoming the program's first five-star recruit since Tiny Gallon in 2010.

At Oklahoma, Young tied the NCAA single-game assists record with 22 against Northwestern State on December 19, 2017. He became the only player to ever lead the NCAA in both points (27.4 per game) and assists (8.7 per game) in a single season. He declared for the 2018 NBA draft after his freshman year.

The Dallas Mavericks selected Young fifth overall in the 2018 NBA draft and traded him to the Atlanta Hawks for the draft rights to Luka Dončić. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team alongside Dončić. He has been selected to four All-Star Games and led the Hawks to three playoff runs, including the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals. In 2025, he was traded to the Washington Wizards.

Young functions as an elite offensive engine with unlimited range, elite passing vision, and the ability to draw fouls at a high rate. His Oklahoma season, where he led the nation in scoring and assists, showcased a generational offensive talent. In the NBA, his value centers on pick-and-roll mastery, transition playmaking, and the ability to carry a team's offense through high usage and efficiency.