Trae Young. Image via: Paras Griffin/ GettyImages Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young suffered a right knee injury during Wednesday night’s matchup against the Brooklyn Nets, cutting short what began as a promising start for Atlanta. The four-time All-Star collided with teammate Mouhamed Gueye late in the first quarter and was forced to leave the court. The Hawks later confirmed that Young would not return, diagnosing the injury as a right knee sprain.
Trae Young’s suffers knee injury during Atlanta Hawks’ matchup against Brooklyn Nets
The incident occurred with just over two minutes left in the opening quarter. While defending an inbounds play, Mouhamed Gueye moved toward the basket after being pushed by Brooklyn’s Noah Clowney. He lost balance and crashed into Young’s planted right leg, which twisted awkwardly beneath him. Young immediately grabbed at his knee and stayed on the floor in visible pain.Despite the discomfort, Young tried to continue, remaining in the game for one more possession before motioning to the bench and heading to the locker room. Broadcast cameras captured him speaking briefly with head coach Quin Snyder before exiting. The Hawks’ medical team soon ruled him out for the remainder of the contest.At the time of his departure, Young had scored six points in seven minutes and helped Atlanta build a six-point lead. He entered the game averaging 20.8 points and 9.5 assists per game, though his shooting had been inconsistent at 36.4% from the field and 19.2% from three through the first four games of the season.
Atlanta Hawks’ growing injury concerns after Trae Young’s exit
Young’s absence couldn’t come at a worse time for the Atlanta Hawks, who began the night 1–3 despite lofty preseason expectations. The team has already dealt with several setbacks, including ankle injuries to Jalen Johnson and Zaccharie Risacher, and a brief illness sidelining Kristaps Porzingis. All three returned to face Brooklyn, but Young’s injury cast a shadow over the game and possibly the team’s near-term outlook.If the sprain keeps Young out for multiple games, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Luke Kennard, and Dyson Daniels are expected to share ball-handling duties. Still, replacing Young’s offensive creativity and court vision is no easy task.The 27-year-old guard remains the heartbeat of Atlanta’s attack. He has been a dynamic playmaker who led the NBA in assists last season with 11.6 per game, a career high. Losing him for any stretch would be a major blow to a Hawks team still trying to find rhythm early in the season.Also Read: Why is Luka Doncic not playing vs the Minnesota Timberwolves? Latest update on the Los Angeles Lakers star’s injury report (October 29, 2025)