“I want to prove that I can make this team the best it can be.”
Before the Wizards vs. Pelicans game on January 9th, a press conference was held for Trae Young, who joined the team from the Hawks.
Trey’s first words as a member of the Wizards were, “When I thought about my career, I wanted to be someone who could influence my teammates and the people around me.I did a good job as a young player with the Hawks, but here, as a veteran, I want to share my experience with the younger players.”
“This team is underrated in the NBA, but we have a lot of fans, and I’m surrounded by people who have known me for a long time and understand how I want to win. I’ve been excited ever since I found out I could be here.”
Reactions to this trade have varied, but Trey’s evaluation is not necessarily high. Some believe that the trade was the result of him being rejected by the Hawks, whose young players are rapidly growing, despite having All-Star-level ability but not being able to help the team win.
Still, he says, “I’m confident in my ability, and I know best who I am. I ignore all the fake information that’s floating around on the internet.” “One day, when I get a real victory, all the negative reviews will turn into positive ones. There will be peaks and troughs, but for me, I just have to have faith and not lose sight of myself.”
The Wizards have been unsuccessful since the end of the John Wall and Bradley Beal era, and although they still have a lot of young players, they don’t have any All-Star-caliber players. Trey says to such young talents, “I’m going to tell them that you can’t skip the process.”
“Instead of looking too far into the future, you should focus on how to improve every day. But even though I’ve only just arrived here, I feel like that attitude is permeating. I grew up in that kind of environment myself, so I’m glad. Yesterday, I toured the arena, and this morning I participated in the shootaround. Everyone was very eager to learn, and all of a sudden I was bombarded with questions (lol).”
Even with Trey added to the Wizards, people don’t expect them to become a team that competes for championships. But Trey insisted, “I see the potential. Nobody comes here to lose. I understand where I am and where I want to be.”
“Young players tend to focus on themselves and their next contract, but if you have a veteran who tells you, “If you win, everything will be fine,” your growth will accelerate. If you’re part of a winning team, you’ll be successful no matter where you go. That’s why having a veteran is important.”
“My biggest goal here is to bring out the best in our young players. I want to prove that I can make this team the best it can be. I want to make All-Stars out of these guys.”
His uniform number will change from 11, which he has known for many years, to 3. “It’s the number I had when I was a freshman in high school. Before I got number 11, it was my first number, so it’s a return to my roots.”
Trey’s greatest appeal is his explosive competitiveness that he shows in important situations. It will be interesting to see if he can show his power with the Wizards, as he shows tremendous energy when overcoming underestimation.
