The thousands of people in attendance at Madison Square Garden were virtually in Trae Young’s grip.
At halftime of Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round series between the Atlanta Hawks and the New York Knicks, Young walked toward his team’s locker room. While the point guard stared at his feet, his shoulder was met by that of 6-foot-11 bruiser Nerlens Noel at center court. Young glanced back, turned his head forward, and thrust his shoulders as if he were pulling up a bookbag. It didn’t phase him.
The moment captured the series. Young orchestrated an offense to the tune of “f*** you” chants.