Nate McMillan’s Job Safe After Tension With Hawks Star Trae Young

A tense exchange between coach Nate McMillan and star guard Trae Young led to Young sitting out Friday’s win over the Nuggets, and it appeared to be the result of Young skipping shootaround, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Young was dealing with a shoulder injury and decided not to participate in shootaround, much to the dismay of McMillan, Charania reported.

“(Young) decided not to participate and wanted to focus on treatment,” Charania said. “As the day went on, he was given two options — to either play and come off the bench, I’m told, or just not show up to the arena at all. 

“… I believe Trae Young actually wanted to play, but when he was faced with these options, he chose not to show up to the arena.”

Charania went on to say the situation is a “microcosm” of the tension that has existed all season between “the locker room at large” in Atlanta. 

“This is a unique situation because you have a star player who did not play in a game, and did not show up to the game or to the arena due to an exchange with his head coach,” Charania said. “It’s gonna be on Nate McMillan and Trae Young to right the ship, because from what I’m told, Nate McMillan’s job is safe. He’s not going anywhere.”

The Hawks (13-10) sit in first place in the Southeast Division, and fourth in the Eastern Conference, through Sunday.

Young, for his part, has downplayed the argument.

“…Trae Young actually wanted to play but when he was faced with these options, he chose not to show up to the arena…”@ShamsCharania on Trae Young’s exchange with Coach Nate McMillan leading him to not play on Friday#RunItBack with @MichelleDBeadle @ChandlerParsons @bansky pic.twitter.com/qiQjHuTUtl

— FanDuel TV (@FanDuelTV) December 5, 2022