Despite stellar play, Hawks’ Young snubbed as Player of the Week
Despite averaging 35 points, 10 assists and five rebounds, the Hawks’ Trae Young was not named the NBA’s Eastern Conference Player of the Week for Feb. 25-March 3. The award went to the 76ers’ Ben Simmons, who averaged 17 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists.
The NBA announced the weekly winners on Monday. The Jazz’s Donovan Mitchell won the award in the Western Conference.
Young was a nominee in the East with the Wizards’ Bradley Beal, the Pistons’ Andre Drummond, the 76ers’ Tobias Harris, the Pistons’ Luke Kennard and the Heat’s Kelly Olynyk.
Here’s a breakdown of Young’s four games last week:
Feb. 25 vs. Rockets: 36 points (12 of 23, 8 of 12 3-point), 8 assists, 1 rebound
Feb. 27 vs. Timberwolves: 36 points (9 of 22, 2 of 5 3-point), 10 assists, 8 rebounds
March 1 vs. Bulls: 49 points (17 of 33, 6 of 13 3-point), 16 assist, 8 rebounds
March 3 vs. Bulls: 18 points (6 of 9, 3 of 4 3-point), 5 assists, 2 rebounds – ejected in third quarter.
The averages were 34.8 points, 8.5 assists, 4.8 rebounds with a .506 field goal percentage, including a .559 3-point percentage. Young set or tied a career-high in points in the first three games of the week before his ejection Sunday. The Hawks went 2-2 in the four games. Young was a plus-22 for the week.
Simmons helped the 76ers to a 2-1 schedule. He averaged 16.7 points, 13.3 rebounds and 8.0 assists with a .550 shooting percentage. He missed his one 3-point attempt. Simmons was a minus-16 for the week.
Young was named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for February, the third time he has been so honored this season.
About the Author
Chris Vivlamore is the sports editor at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He has served as reporter and editor at the AJC since 2003.
