After his trade from the Atlanta Hawks, Trae Young opened up about why he wanted to land in Washington. And it’s pretty clear he sees this as a real opportunity, not just another stop in his career.

Young said he wanted a place where he could make a genuine impact both on and off the court.

“For me, D.C. is overlooked as far as a big market,” Young explained. “In the NBA, I feel like this is a big market.”

He thinks Washington deserves way more respect around the league than it gets. And he’s ready to help change that perception.

Building Something From the Ground Up

Here’s what really drew Young to the Wizards – the chance to lead a young, developing roster.

Washington’s committed to building around young players like Bilal Coulibaly, Alex Sarr, and Tre Johnson. Young believes his experience can help speed up their development in a major way.

He’s genuinely excited about guiding younger teammates through the the tough moments that are bound to come. “I feel like I have more experience and more things I can give these young guys,” he said.

That leadership role actually appealed to him more than joining an already established contender.

Young wants real responsibility and influence in the locker room. He’s looking for a place where his voice matters, where he can shape the culture from the inside.

“Just being able to have an impact on my teammates… being able to be a vet with these young guys here… I’m just super excited.”

Trae Young on what he can bring to the @WashWizards

– NBA (@NBA)

The Relationship That Made It Happen

There’s another piece of this puzzle that really mattered to Young – his existing relationship with Will Dawkins, Washington’s general manager.

Dawkins actually helped bring Young into the NBA and has known him since his early career days. That history created real trust during what could’ve been pretty complicated trade talks.

Young felt comfortable knowing the front office already understood his personality and playing style. They weren’t taking a shot in the dark.

Familiar faces often matter way more than people realize during big career moves. And this connection definitely helped Washington stand out from other potential destinations.

Looking Back at Atlanta

Young also took time to show appreciation for his time in Atlanta.

He acknowledged the growth he experienced during eight seasons with the Hawks. Those years included playoff runs, All-Star appearances, and plenty of hard lessons along the way.

He credited Atlanta for shaping him into a more complete player and leader. Young said those experiences prepared him for exactly this kind of next chapter – one where he’s expected to be the veteran voice in the room.

Now he’s ready to put all that knowledge to work in Washington.