‘It’s very motivating:’ Hawks support Braves on World Series run

Before the Braves faced the Astros, Trae Young predicted a World Series win for Atlanta.

He went to Game 5 on Sunday, after getting home from a three-game Hawks road trip — it took one more game for the Braves to get it done, dominating Game 6 in Houston on Tuesday and delivering the championship the city has yearned for. For Young and the Hawks, who went on a thrilling postseason run of their own last season, though it came to a halt in the Eastern Conference finals, watching the Braves win it all has been inspiring.

“It’s very motivating,” Young said Wednesday in Brooklyn, after a loss to the Nets. “That’s a huge honor, winning a championship in the league, winning a World Series is big for our city and big for the Braves. After not winning it, what, 29 years or 26 years. ... That’s a great accomplishment, and doing it for the city is a great accomplishment. It’s definitely motivating. I think every sport wants to win, especially for the city of Atlanta, and I think that’s the same thing we’re trying to build over here. We’re trying to build a championship organization. It doesn’t happen overnight, we’ve got a lot of young guys, but I believe in everybody in that locker room that we can get it done.”

Throughout the playoffs, the Hawks were vocal in their support for the Braves, with players and even coach Nate McMillan attending games and pulling for their fellow Atlanta sports team. With the Braves returning home Wednesday — trophy in tow — the Hawks will hold a ceremony to celebrate them, welcoming handful of players and senior-level executives to State Farm Arena for their game vs. the Jazz on Thursday. Freddie Freeman, AJ Minter and Joc Pederson are expected to attend, among others.

“We want to invite our city to join us in celebrating the Braves on their World Series’ victory,” Hawks CEO Steve Koonin said. “The Braves captivated this city with their resilience and late-game heroics and once again proved how sports can bring a community together. Being able to honor the Braves on a Forever 404 Night, which pays respect to what makes Atlanta great, is a perfect match.”

The Braves hadn’t won a championship since 1995, and the Hawks have won only one, in 1958, when the team was in St. Louis. They came up two wins short of the NBA Finals last year, and with a 4-4 start, it’s too early to tell the team’s direction this season, especially given how its furious finish last year propelled it from out of the playoff conversation to the No. 5 seed.

Wing Kevin Huerter, a close friend of Braves pitcher Ian Anderson who followed the series closely, said he hopes the Braves winning is the tip of the iceberg, when it comes to bringing championships to Atlanta.

“They’re the first team that’s won a championship in Atlanta for a long time, and I think there’s a lot of teams that are capable of doing it, including us, and we want to follow in that path,” Huerter said. “Obviously, super excited for them.”

The Hawks won’t be able to attend Friday’s parade, since they’ll be leaving for a four-game West Coast road trip. But they’ll get to commemorate the moment in a different way, with a Braves contingency attending Thursday’s game.

Immediately after he sat down for his pregame press conference Wednesday in Brooklyn, McMillan gave the Braves a shout-out. He grew up a fan, living in North Carolina and watching games on TBS.

“Congratulations to the Braves and manager Brian Snitker,” McMillan said. “Just unbelievable. Those guys played great baseball this season, and that was beautiful to watch. So congratulations to that entire organization. Those players just played outstanding baseball (Tuesday night).”