Eastern Conference

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ATLANTA –- Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young was named Kia NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for games played in March and April combined, it was announced today. The first-year guard from the University of Oklahoma has now received the conference’s top rookie honor for games played in November, January, February and March/April, becoming the first Hawks player to ever receive the award four times.

In 19 starts spanning the two months, Young averaged 23.4 points, 9.2 assists and 4.9 rebounds in 31.9 minutes (.440 FG%, .307 3FG%, .858 FT%). Over that time, he led all Eastern rookies in points per game, total points (444), assists per game, total assists (175), double-doubles (10) and free throws made (103). He was responsible for all eight 20-or-more point/10-or-more assist games by East rookies over that time. Between March 19 and March 26, Young recorded four consecutive 20-plus point/10-plus assist contests, the longest streak by an NBA rookie since Damon Stoudamire (Toronto) in 1996.

On March 1, Young totaled 49 points and 16 assists vs. Chicago, becoming the first rookie in NBA history to hit those marks in a game, and just the second player in league history to reach those totals in a game (James Harden, 12/31/16). He also joined Michael Jordan and LeBron James as the only rookies in the past 40 seasons to reach 40-or-more points and 10-or-more assists in a game.

On March 9 vs. Brooklyn, he recorded the first triple-double of his career (23 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds) and the only triple-double among East rookies this season. On March 23 vs. Philadelphia, Young hit the game-winning shot with 0.1 seconds remaining and eight days later vs. Milwaukee, he sank a buzzer beater in overtime to beat the Bucks.

Young recorded a pair of 33-point, 12-assist games (in wins at New Orleans on 3/26 and vs. Philadelphia on 4/3) and added a 32-point 11-assist effort in another win over the 76ers on 3/23.

He finished his rookie campaign averaging 19.1 points, 8.1 assists and 3.7 rebounds in 30.9 minutes (.418 FG%, .324 3FG%, .829 FT%), becoming one of two rookies in NBA history to reach 19.1 ppg/8.1 apg/3.7 rpg in a season (Oscar Robertson, 1960-61). Young totalled seven 30-point, 10-assist games this season, the second-most by a rookie in league history (Oscar Robertson, 1960-61). He led the Eastern Conference in total assists (653), finishing second in the NBA.

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Hawks Guard Trae Young Named KIA NBA Eastern Conference  Rookie Of The Month For March/April

ATLANTA -– Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young was named NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played March 18-24, it was announced today. The first-year guard from the University of Oklahoma averaged 25.3 points and 11.3 assists in three games, leading the Hawks to a 2-1 record against foes who entered the contests with a combined .628 winning percentage, capped by a game-winning shot in a 129-127 victory over Philadelphia.

Young compiled three straight games with at least 20 points and 10 assists, tied for the longest streak in the Eastern Conference this season. The six-foot-two point guard opened the week with his highest assist total of the stretch, handing out 12 helpers and scoring 21 points against Houston on March 19. On March 21, Young scored a team-high 23 points and recorded a game-high 11 assists in a 117-114 victory over Utah.

The No. 5 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Young totaled 32 points (11-20 FGs, 4-9 3FGs, 6-7 FTs), 11 assists, six boards and a block against the Sixers on March 23. Young sealed the victory with a game-winning floater with 0.1 seconds remaining on the clock. Young’s 32 points and 11 assists marked the fifth time this season he’s totaled at least 30 points and 10 assists in a game, tying him with Stephen Curry and Michael Jordan for the second-most such contests by a rookie in NBA history.

Young, who took home Kia NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honors for November, January and February, is the first rookie in either conference to win Player of the Week this season and the first Hawks player to win the award since Paul Millsap on April 11, 2016.

Through 74 starts, Young is averaging 18.7 points, 7.9 assists (fourth in the NBA) and 3.6 rebounds this season. Young’s 583 total assists lead all Eastern Conference players this season (second in the NBA).

The Hawks visit the New Orleans Pelicans tomorrow at 8 p.m. ET on FOX Sports Southeast.

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Hawks Guard Trae Young Named Eastern Conference Player of the Week

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Story by KL ChouinardTwitter: @KLChouinard

Trae Young knows that he didn't get the win he wanted over the Rockets.

"Of course you want to do well in the game and help your team win," Young told reporters in Houston, "but at the end of the day, if we don't win, I don't feel good about it."

On the other hand, Young lit up the Toyota Center on his way to a career-high 36 points. He made 8 of his 12 attempts from three, repeatedly launching from well beyond the three-point line to pull Houston's defense further apart than they wanted to be stretched. Young was one of the primary reasons that the Hawks remained competitive in the 119-111 loss until the final moments.  

Young made threes from 27, 30, 27, 31, 27, 29, 30, and 28 feet on the road against a Houston team that many expect will make a deep run in this year's playoffs just like they did a year ago.

In scoring 36 points, Young tied Jaren Jackson, Jr. for the most points scored in a game by a rookie this season. According to Hawks PR, Young also became the 10th rookie in NBA history to tally 36-or-more points and eight-or-more assists – and he was the first to do so since Portland's Damian Lillard did it in 2013.

Young has returned from a runner-up finish in the Skills Competition at All-Star Weekend in fine fashion. In the three games since the break, Young has averaged 29.7 points and 8.7 assists while shooting 51.7 percent from three. With three days left in February, Young nudged himself into contention for another Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month Award. 

There are five rookies in the East averaging more than 10 points per game in February. Young leads all East rookies in points, assists, and threes made, while also averaging a solid 3.9 rebounds per game as a point guard. 

Beyond all the numbers, though, Young wants his production to lead to positive team results. 

"Trae had a career-high night," Lloyd Pierce told reporters after the game, "and the first thing he said was, 'I wanted the win.' "

Trae Young and the Hawks didn't get a victory to take home last night. But if he and his team keep putting forth the same kind of effort on the court, they will be grabbing their fair share of wins. Young and the young Hawks are closer to being a competitive playoff team than most people seem to think.

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Trae Young's Recent Play Results In Career Night

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The Hawks are (mostly #2), but they will get their shot at everyone's universal #1 pick, the Golden State Warriors, on Wednesday. It seems like a safe bet that whoever wins that game will be tops on all of the lists next Monday -- and quite possibly for the rest of the regular season too.

Story by KL ChouinardTwitter:  @AnaheimAmigos

Eastern Conference

Hawks Guard Trae Young Named KIA NBA Eastern Conference Rookie Of The Month For March/April

Hawks Guard Trae Young Named Eastern Conference Player of the Week

Trae Young's Recent Play Results In Career Night

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