NBA
TY
#11

Trae Young

Guard · Washington Wizards · 6'2", 164 lb · Born Sep 19, 1998 · Lubbock, Texas · Drafted 5th overall, 2018
4× All-StarAssists leader (2025)Ice TraeDeep range
NBAWashington WizardsGuards
Compare:vs Sarrvs Davisvs Coulibalyvs Carringtonvs Champagnievs George
In short

Trae Young is a star scoring point guard and elite playmaker known for deep range and clutch shot-making — 'Ice Trae.' Drafted 5th in 2018 and immediately traded for Luka Dončić, he became a four-time All-Star, led the NBA in assists, and drove Atlanta's surprise run to the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals. In college he was the only player ever to lead the NCAA in both scoring and assists in one season.

Matchup model · next gameLow confidenceFri, Nov 13
@Utah JazzDrop coverage
Proj. points
18
range 15.2–20.7
Line 18
50%
to go over
Team win
38%
112–114
Poi 18 Lean underReb 2 Lean underAss 8 Lean overPRA 28 Lean under
Likely on himJaren Jackson Jr.· 80 Perimeter DStrong defender
15+ pts84%20+ pts26%

Model lines Young at 18 pts (range 15.2–20.7) vs a 18 line — roughly a coin flip to clear it (50%).

Biggest edge: scheme fit — drop coverage concedes the pull-up/mid-range he likes.

Full matchup breakdown · all markets →
Balladex Matchup Model — modeled from real roster ratings, scoring baselines & defender-matchup history. Schedule, availability & head-to-head samples are illustrative in this prototype; production wires live schedule, injury & player-tracking feeds. Not betting advice.
✦ Ask anything about Young
The Young Story — narrated
Tap play to hear his story, told as a 90-second short.
🔊 Prototype uses your browser's built-in voice. Production would use a studio-grade AI narrator.

A star scoring guard and elite playmaker — deep range and clutch shot-making, 'Ice Trae.'

At Oklahoma, Young became the only player ever to lead the NCAA in both scoring and assists.

🏫 Oklahoma · 5th, 2018NCAA scoring + assists

Drafted and traded for Luka Dončić, he became a four-time All-Star in Atlanta.

Traded for Luka4× All-Star

He led the Hawks to the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals.

2021 ECF runIce Trae

He led the NBA in assists in 2025 before this move to Washington.

Assists leader 2025Traded to WAS
— end of story —
Want the full numbers? Open the breakdown →
PPG
17.9
2025-26
RPG
2
per game
APG
8
per game
FG%
.458
.338 from three
LIFE

Roots & the rise

A star scoring guard and elite playmaker — deep range and clutch shot-making, 'Ice Trae.'

Trae Young was born in Lubbock, Texas, the son of a former college player, and had a sensational one-and-done season at Oklahoma — the only player ever to lead the NCAA in both scoring (27.4 a game) and assists (8.7). Drafted 5th in 2018 and immediately traded to Atlanta for the draft rights to Luka Dončić, he became one of the league's premier offensive engines.

A four-time All-Star and All-NBA selection, he led the Hawks to the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals and led the NBA in assists in 2025. Known for logo-range shooting, a deadly floater, and late-game nerve, he brings his high-volume scoring and playmaking to Washington.

Sources: Wikipedia, NBA.com, Basketball-Reference, ESPN.

BEYOND THE GAME

Beyond the game

Young grew up around basketball — his father, Rayford, played at Texas Tech and professionally in Europe — and became a cultural figure for his fearless, deep-range game and his knack for silencing hostile road crowds (earning the 'Ice Trae' nickname). He married Shelby in 2023 and is a father, and in 2025 took on an assistant general manager role at his alma mater, Oklahoma.

His on-court identity is offensive engine — a ball-dominant lead guard with limitless range, elite pick-and-roll orchestration, a floater game, and foul-drawing craft. His scoring (career ~25 a game) and playmaking (a 2025 assists title) make him a franchise-level creator; his defense is the documented weakness, but as an offensive hub he can carry a unit.

PERSONALITY

The person

A ball-dominant offensive engine — deep-range shooting, elite passing, and clutch scoring.

Elite playmakerLed the NBA in assists; a career ~10 a game.
Logo-range shooterLimitless range and a deadly floater game.
Ice TraeFearless clutch scoring that silences road crowds.
PLAYER DNA

Archetype & ratings

Archetype
Star Lead Guard · Creator
Temperament
Alpha
Leadership
76/100
Scoring78
Playmaking84
Rebounding39
Perimeter D64
Rim protection20
Spacing60
Athleticism78
Clutch79
Elite playmakerDeep-range shooterFranchise creator
ANALYSIS

What the numbers say

A franchise offensive engine

Young's value is elite offense — a lead guard with limitless range, elite pick-and-roll passing (a 2025 assists title), a floater game, and foul-drawing craft who scores around 25 and creates for everyone. He orchestrates an entire offense, the kind of high-usage hub who can lift a rebuilding team's scoring and playmaking overnight.

The defensive trade-off

The documented weakness is defense — his size and on-ball impact rate among the poorer guards, a real playoff vulnerability. But his offensive ceiling is star-level, and on a Washington team hungry for creation and shot-making, his scoring and passing make him a franchise-caliber engine whose fit is about surrounding him with defense and finishing.

STATS

Season by season

Per game

SeasonGPMINPTSREBASTFG%3P%
2025-261525.617.92.08.0.458.338

Source: Basketball-Reference.

ADVANCED

Advanced & historical

Where he sits in history

CollegeOnly player ever to lead the NCAA in both scoring and assists in one season (2018)
2021Led the Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals
2025Led the NBA in assists

Hardware

4×
NBA All-Star
1×
All-NBA (2022)
1×
Assists leader (2025)
OUTLOOK

Where it's headed

AI-generated · updated July 13, 2026

A star offensive engine — deep-range scoring and elite playmaking for Washington.

Young gives Washington a franchise-level creator — limitless shooting, elite passing (a 2025 assists title), and clutch scoring. His defense is the trade-off, but his offensive ceiling is star-level, and on a team needing creation, he's a high-usage hub who can transform the offense.

PlaymakingElite
Shooting rangeElite
ScoringElite
DefenseLimited

Contract

Role
Franchise guard engine
Peak
Assists leader 2025
Age
27 prime
Bottom line

A logo-range shooter, elite playmaker, and fearless clutch scorer — a franchise offensive engine for Washington, with defense the trade-off to build around.

FAQ

Quick answers

Why is Trae Young called 'Ice Trae'?

For his fearless, ice-in-the-veins clutch scoring — including deep, game-changing shots that silence hostile road crowds.

What did Trae Young do in college?

At Oklahoma he became the only player ever to lead the NCAA in both scoring (27.4 a game) and assists (8.7) in a single season.

What is Trae Young's biggest strength?

Elite offense — limitless three-point range, a floater game, and league-leading playmaking; he led the NBA in assists in 2025.