Since being drafted into the NBA by the Hawks, Trae Young has proven to be a terrific player. The No. 5 overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft has found his niche since making his debut in the Association. He is a phenomenal shooter with incredible scoring flair, regardless of the opponent in front of him.
Despite being in the league for six years, many agree he remains an underrated player. But let's put that aside for a minute and discuss the Atlanta Hawks star's actual ceiling.
If he remains on his current path, he may end up racking up individual accolades and sneak into the Basketball Hall of Fame once his NBA career is over. But will he be remembered as one of the greatest basketball players ever? Well, the 3x NBA All-Star gave a unique response to it.
Young says he could have been in the GOAT debate
Like many of his point guard peers, Young stands at 6'1". While he may not be short for the rest of the world, Trae dwarfs in comparison to some all-time greats in the NBA. Young is apparently aware of his lack of height and recently claimed that if he had been 6'8", he could have been the best player ever to grace the hardwood.
"I used to have this saying. I used to hate when I used to see guys that's Tall and That's All," Young said . "They just out there, they tall and that's all. They can finish and do all this stuff. I mean, if I was 6'8, I feel like I would be the best player to ever play this game. Just because of my mentality and the way I play, just the smartness I have on this game."
The Hawks guard has averaged 25.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 9.5 assists per game for his career. But the Texas native believes he could have done a lot more on the floor if he were taller.
Young on his deficiencies
There are many things that a player can improve with training. However, the same cannot be said for their height. The Hawks star knows this and uses his tough mentality to overcome his height disadvantage.
"I feel like there's a lot I can bring, but there's a lot of deficiencies coz like I'm 6'2, 6'1. Like it's tough and I'm playing in a big man's game," Young said.
Despite playing a big man's game, as Young explained, his mental toughness has helped him become an elite guard in the modern-day NBA. But would Young be one of the best players of all time if he had a few more inches of height? We will never know, but Trae has proved he can use the tools he has to establish himself as one of the most influential offensive players in the NBA right now.
Related: "I believe winning takes care of everything" - Trae comments on being unfairly portrayed as a 'selfish' player
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