Trae Young is really in his Villain Arc. Try to confront the mighty guard, and he’ll let you know what a death stare looks like despite his 6-1 height. And the 6-6 tall Dillon Brooks learned it the hard way. During the recent heated game between the Houston Rockets and the Atlanta Hawks, tensions boiled over late in the fourth quarter.
With just about 50 seconds left in the game, Brooks knocked Young down on the perimeter. As the action paused due to teammate Dyson Daniels converting an and-1 layup, Young seized the moment to retaliate. He nonchalantly drove his shoulder into Brooks as he walked by.
Although, this immediate exchange changed the scene in split seconds and ignited a confrontation that escalated quickly. What followed was a brief but intense stand-off as the two players faced each other defiantly. The situation intensified when Brooks grabbed Young by the neck, prompting both teams to intervene to separate the players. In light of the altercation, the referees assessed double technical fouls to both Brooks and Young.
Dillon Brooks and Trae Young received offsetting technical fouls on this play 👀 pic.twitter.com/7xh5kfJMqe
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 29, 2025
While no free throws were awarded due to the mutual nature of the technicals, Dyson Daniels did step up to the free-throw line for the foul preceding the scuffle. And cutting Houston’s lead to a narrow two points.
Both Brooks and Young are no strangers to the referee’s whistle, having been among the league’s leaders in technical fouls last season. Brooks notably led the league with 15 technicals, sharing that dubious distinction with Anthony Edwards. While Young racked up 12, tying for third place alongside several other players.
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Trae Young Sounds Optimistic Despite Hawks’ Six-Game Losing Streak
Despite the Atlanta Hawks’ frustrating six-game losing streak, Trae Young remains hopeful about turning the team’s fortunes around. After a narrow 100-96 loss to the Houston Rockets, where the Hawks rallied from a 16-point deficit, the star guard acknowledged the challenges but emphasized the importance of perseverance.
“We’re on a losing streak and we have to figure out how to get back on the winning side. It’s frustrating; it’s definitely other factors that go into it, but whenever you’re fighting the way we’re fighting, we’re still giving ourselves a chance with everybody out there. It’s a good sign, but you obviously want to win more games than you lose. We’ll be alright, trust me,” Young said.
Trae Young with a positive outlook despite the Hawks’ losing streak:
— Malik Brown (@_MalikATL) January 29, 2025
“We’ll be alright, trust me.” pic.twitter.com/B1EQ4ph06r
However, Dyson Daniels also validated Young’s sentiments on the importance of teamwork. The Hawks’ struggles have been exacerbated by injuries, making it essential for players to adopt a “next-man-up” mentality.
