MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Miami wide receiver Tyreek Hill has been carted off the field after suffering what appeared to be a serious injury to his left leg on Monday night.
The injury happened on a play where Hill made a catch and got tackled near the New York Jets’ sideline with 13:21 left in the third quarter. Players from both teams took a knee while Hill was tended to, and the cart was immediately brought out to help carry him off the field.
An air cast appeared to be applied quickly and players from both teams were around the cart before it was driven away.
Hill is a five-time All-NFL selection. He clapped and waved at the fans as he was driven off, receiving an ovation after the stadium had been hushed for several minutes following the play.
The Oklahoma City Thunder (and the Seattle Supersonics before them) have 51 jersey numbers worn by the players who have suited up for the franchise since its founding at the start of the 1967-68 season. To commemorate the players who wore those numbers, Thunder Wire is covering the entire history of jersey numbers and the players who sported them since the founding of the team.
And while those Supersonics jerseys may not remain part of the franchise history should a new team be established in Seattle as was the case with the return of the Charlotte Hornets, they are part of the Thunder’s history today.
For this article, we continue with the 42nd jersey number in the series, jersey No. 44, with 15 players in total having donned the jersey in the history of the franchise.
The 15th of those players who did so in the Brooklyn Nets era, forward alum Justin Jackson. After ending his college career at UNC, Jackson was picked up with the 15th overall selection of the 2017 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Houston, Texas native would play parts of the first two seasons of his pro career with the Sacramento Kings after a draft night deal. He also played for the Dallas Mavericks before he was dealt to OKC in 2020. His stay with the team would span 33 games before he was cut.
During his time suiting up for the Thunder, Jackson wore only jersey No. 44 and put up 7.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game.
All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.
The Los Angeles Rams split carries and snaps even more evenly with running backs Kyren Williams and Blake Corum in the team’s Week 4 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Williams finished with 13 carries and played 68% of the snaps (both season lows) while Corum had nine carries and played on 29.3% of snaps (both season highs).
Head coach Sean McVay has talked about getting both running backs involved in each game, and Week 4 looked like the most even split between the two. In fact, the split was even tighter until the Rams’ final game-sealing drive when Williams had two more rushes.
McVay told reporters that the run game was “good,” that both backs did a “great job” together and it was “important” to get them both involved in games. However, he wouldn’t go so far as to say the Rams would ride the “hot hand” if one running back emerged throughout the course of the game. McVay used the example of Williams’ lost fumble in the fourth quarter as an example of the team sticking with Williams despite the miscue.
“Certainly, if there’s a hot hand, I think that’s something that the situation dictates but I think we do want to try to be disciplined in making sure that there’s a lot of trust in both of those guys to be able to play and not be shortsighted in the moment,” McVay said. “One of my favorite things about Kyren Williams is he’s at his best after a moment where I put him in a terrible position. I don’t think that was his fault at all on the one fumble. You watch his response and his resolve and I thought it was important to give him an opportunity to be able to continue to play through that. He answered the bell in a big way.
“… I think you want to get them both involved. I thought yesterday was good. I think it’s important to understand if there’s a hot hand, you go with it. It’s also important to be able to get both guys involved.”
McVay trusts his players, and he trusts his game plan concerning how he splits up the backfield. While the Rams running game didn’t look great in Week 4 — 102 combined yards was their fewest since Week 1 — they did enough to salt the game away while Matthew Stafford carved up the Colts’ defense through the air.
The Week 5 matchup with the San Francisco 49ers will be another opportunity for McVay to flex both of his running backs against a defense that just gave up 151 yards on the ground to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
As the season continues to roll on, a few Bayern loanees started their European campaigns this week. We also saw a few goals scored — including two from Palhinha — and even an assist from a keeper! See who had goal contributions and how everyone else went on this week in league, cup, and continental competitions:
FC Bayern Munich
There are nine players from on loan from the first team.
Germany – Bundesliga
There are four players on loan to the German Bundesliga: Alexander Nübel, Arijon Ibrahimovic, Daniel Peretz, and Armando Sieb.
Alexander Nübel – VfB Stuttgart
Nübel helped Stuttgart — on offense and defense — start their Europa League campaign with a win. He did not record a save in the match Cetta Vigo and allowed one late goal to make the last few minutes nervous. Fortunately they were already up 2-0, partially thanks to a Nübel assist on the opening goal five minutes after halftime. Stuttgart held on to win 2-1.
Stuttgart travelled to Köln on Sunday. Stuttgart won 2-1 again, but this match went completely differently. Nübel faced six shots on goal and saved five of them, overcoming a 4th-minute goal and saving the rest of the shots that he faced. He also completed 89% of his passes on the day.
Stuttgart will make a relatively short trip across the border to face the Swiss side, Basel, on Thursday in the Europa League. They return to domestic play on Sunday when they host Arijon Ibrahimović’s Heidenheim.
Arijon Ibrahimović – 1. FC Heidenheim
Ibrahimović started for Heidenheim against Augsburg at home on Saturday. He played the89 minutes and recorded just one shot that missed the target. He created two chances for his teammates to shoot, but overall did not pass well on the day. He left the match in the 89th minute with his team up 2-0. They allowed one stoppage time goal, but held on for their first win (and points).
Ibrahimović and Heidenheim will travel to face Nübel and Stuttgart on Sunday.
Daniel Peretz – Hamburger SV
Peretz was on the bench as the second keeper for HSV’s 0-0 draw at Union Berlin.
Hamburg will host Sieb’s Mainz on Sunday.
Armando Sieb – 1. FSV Mainz 05
Sieb started for Mainz as they hosted Dortmund on Saturday. He had one shot attempt from outside the box, but it was blocked before it hit the 18-yard box. He created two chance for his teammates to shoot, but Mainz could not find a goal on the day. He left the match in the 80th minute of the match with Dortmund up 2-0. The match ended with the score despite Mainz playing down a man with their back up keeper since a 60th-minute red card to the starting keeper.
Mainz will travel to Cyprus to face Omonia Nicosia on Thursday. They will also travel to Hamburg to face HSV on Sunday.
England – Premier League
There are two player on loan to the English Premier League: João Palhinha and Jonah Kusi-Asare.
Palhinha started for Spurs and played the full 90 minutes in the EFL Cup against Doncaster Rovers on Wednesday. He only had one shot, but made the most of it, opening the scoring in style with a bicycle kick goal. He also completed 63 passes — the most of anyone in that match — on the way to helping Tottenham easily dispatch their third-division opponents 3-0 and clinch a spot in the next round.
Tottenham hosted Wolverhampton on Saturday in Premier League play. Palhinha started and again played the full 90 minutes. He also scored the first Spurs goal of the match, but this time it came in the fourth minute of stoppage time. The shot came from the edge of the box and made it 1-1, salvaging a draw at home.
Tottenham will travel north of the Artic Circle in Norway to face Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League on Tuesday — a rematch of last season’s Europa League semi-final. They return to England and the Premier League on Saturday away to Leeds.
Kusi-Asare was on the bench for Fullham’s 1-0 win against Cambridge United in the EFL Cup, but did not make it onto the pitch. He was not in the matchday squad for their 3-1 loss in the Premier League away to Aston Villa on Sunday.
Fullham will face AFC Bournemouth away on Sunday.
Spain – La Liga
Bryan Zaragoza is the only player on loan to Spain’s La Liga.
Bryan Zaragoza – Celta Vigo
Zaragoza was on the bench to begin Celta Vigo’s match at Stuttgart to open their Europa League campaign. He came into the match in the 61st minute. He had one shot, but could not test Nübel. He also completed 90% of his passes but could not set up a chance for his teammates to shoot. Celta Vigo fell 2-1 in Stuttgart.
In a return to La Liga play, Zaragoza started and played against Elche on the road. He had three shots — one on goal, one blocked and one that missed just wide. He completed 85% of his passes — misplaying just two passes all day. He left the match in the 67th minute when his team was even at 1-1, but Celta Vigo conceded a goal immediately after Zaragoza came off and lost 2-1 for the second time on the road this week.
Celta Vigo will host PAOK of Greece on Thursday in the Europa League and then Atletico Madrid on Sunday in league play.
Switzerland – Super League
Lovro Zvonarek is the only player on loan from the first team to the Swiss Super League.
Lovro Zvonarek – Grasshopper
Zvonarek started and played the full 90 minutes for Grasshopper against Lugano. He had two shots from outside the box — one on target and one that missed — and created four chances for his teammates to shoot — more than anyone else in the match — but none of them turned into goals. He was also the first one booked from either team, receiving a yellow card in the 14th minute. Grasshopper fell 2-1 on the road.
Grasshopper will face FC Zürich on Saturday.
Germany – 2. Bundesliga
There are two players from the first team on loan to the 2. Bundesliga: Maurice Krattenmacher and Tarek Buchman.
Maurice Krattenmacher – Hertha BSC
Krattenmacher was on the bench for Hertha’s away match against 1.FC Nürnberg, but did not make it onto the pitch until the 90th minute. He had just two touches but helped Berlin hold onto a 3-0 away win.
Hertha will host Preussen Münster on Saturday.
Tarek Buchman – 1. FC Nürnberg
Buchman is still on the injury list with a foot injury. He hopes to return early October.
His return could come as early as next weekend when they travel to face Fortuna Düsseldorf.
FC Bayern Munich II
There are seven players on loan from the second team.
Germany – 2. Bundesliga
There are two players on loan from the second team in the 2. Bundesliga: Noel Aseko and Paul Scholl.
Noel Aseko – Hannover 96
Aseko started for Hannover at home against Arminia Bielefeld. He created two chances for his teammates to shoot, but did not have a shot attempt of his own. He was subbed out in the 79th minute with his team up 2-1. Hannover added one more late goal and won with a final score of 3-1.
Hannover 96 will travel to face Greuther Fürth on Sunday.
Paul Scholl – Karlsruher SC
Scholl was on the bench for Karlsruhe’s 1-0 home win against Magdeburg, but did not make it onto the pitch.
KSC will travel to face Dynamo Dresden on Saturday.
Germany – 3. Liga
Max Schmitt is the only player on loan in the 3. Liga.
Max Schmitt – SSV Ulm 1846
Schmitt was the backup keeper for Ulm’s 1-1 away draw against Hoffenheim II.
Ulm will host SC Schweinfurt on Wednesday before travelling to face Ingolstadt on Saturday — both in league play.
Germany – Regionalliga
There are two players on loan in the Regionalliga Südwest: Benedikt Wimmer and David Emmanuel.
Benedikt Wimmer – SV Sandhausen
Wimmer started and played the full 90 minutes against Kickers Offenbach. The match was back and forth, with both teams leading throughout. Sandhausen scored a late goal to win it 4-3 at home.
Sandhausen will be on the road against SG Sonnenhof Großaspach on Wednesday before hosting TSV Steinbach Haiger on Sunday.
David Emmanuel – Hessen Kassel
Emmanuel was on the bench for Kassel’s 3-2 loss away to SGV Freiburg, but did not make it into the match.
Kassel will host two Regionalliga opponents this week: Bahlinger SC on Wednesday and FC Astoria Walldorf on Saturday.
Switzerland – Super League
Johnathan Asp Jensen is the only player from the second league on loan to the Swiss Super League.
Johnathan Asp Jensen – Grasshopper
Asp Jensen started and played the full 90 minutes for Grasshopper in their 2-1 away loss to Lugano. He had two shots on goal from long range, one of which went in for Grasshopper’s loan goal. This is his third goal for the Dane since joining Grasshopper on loan. The goal leveled the match at 1-1, even though Grasshopper was down a man, but they immediately conceded the winner four minutes later.
Jonathan Asp Jensen scored again yesterday against FC Lugano – and it was a beauty. The 19-year-old is now on 4 goal contributions after five matchdays for the third-from-bottom side in the Swiss Super League.
Maximilian Hennig is the only player on loan to the Austrian Bundesliga.
Maximillian Hennig – TSV Hartberg
Hennig started and played the full 90 minutes for TSV Hartberg against Sturm Graz. He had one shot attempt in the middle of the box, which was blocked and went down as a big chance missed. He mostly contributed on the defensive side of the ball, helping Hartberg keep a shutout against the defending Champions for 90+ minutes. Unfortunately, the home team scored a late stoppage time winner and took all three points with a 1-0 win.
Hartberg will be on the road to LASK on Sunday.
Austria – 2. Liga
Mudaser Sedat is the only person on loan to Austria’s second league.
Mudaser Sedat — Amstetten
Sedat was on the bench for Amstetten’s scoreless draw away to Austria Wien II, but did not make it onto the pitch.
Amstetten will host FC Liefering — the feeder team of Red Bull Salzburg — on Friday.
FC Bayern Munich Frauen
There are two players on loan from the women’s team.
Spain – Primera División Femenina
Edna Imade is the only player on loan to Spain’s Primera División Femenina.
Edna Imade – Real Sociedad
Imade started and played the full 90 minutes for Real Sociedad on the road against Levante Badalona. She only had one shot attempt, but that shot turned into the first goal of the match, making it 1-0 early in the second half. Outside of the goal, she had the least amount of touches for anyone that played the full match with just 23 and only completed 10 of 20 pass attempts. A teammate added a late goal and Sociedad won 2-0 away.
Real Sociedad will host UD Tenerife on Saturday.
Brazil – Brasileirão Feminino
Ana Guzmán is the only player on loan to Brazil’s Brasileirão Feminino.
Ana Guzmán – SE Palmerias
Palmerias’ information from this weekend’s match has not been updated. We will continue to monitor and look for more reliable sources.
Logic has never stopped random online speculation, and some wondered if it was a sign that he might want out in the summer of 2027, when he can become a free agent. No, he does not. Jokic ended that at Nuggets Media Day on Monday.
“Those contract extensions come as a reward as something that is natural to the sport,” said Jokic. “Especially in today’s NBA with how the salary cap is going. My plan is to be a Nugget forever.”
While there are teams aiming to have cap space in 2027, most of them are more focused on another former MVP, one who plays in a northern Midwestern city. Sure, they would be open to Jokic if he decided to bolt, but nobody really expected that to happen.
Now Jokic and Jamal Murray — one of the best duos in the NBA — can focus on returning the Nuggets to the NBA Finals, surrounded by an improved roster filled with solid role players such as Cameron Johnson, Bruce Brown and Tim. Hardaway Jr., as well as the returning Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, Peyton Watson and Julian Strawther.
BOSTON — It has been nearly five months since Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum ruptured his right Achilles tendon in the second round of the NBA playoffs, but Tuesday will mark one of the most difficult days of his recovery, as his teammates take the practice court for the first time of the 2025-26 campaign.
“Now it’s a tough spot to be in, because the team is practicing tomorrow, and I won’t be able to be out there,” Tatum said from Monday’s media day festivities. “I’m certain when the season starts and I’m not out there, that’ll be mentally challenging, but you just try to look for bright days when you can get it.”
One of those days came over the weekend, when for the first time since the injury Tatum took the practice court, getting in a light non-contact workout and sharing video with his fans on social media.
Houston Rockets superstar Kevin Durant — the premier example of how to come back healthy from an Achilles injury — was as surprised as everyone else at the speed with which Tatum returned to the court:
“He’s doing everything he can to get back, and we don’t know when that’s going to be, but hopefully it’s this season,” said Sam Hauser, who is among a large contingent of Celtics who have been working out all summer in Boston, where Tatum has been rehabbing every day. ” He’s the first one in and last one out.”
This is a common refrain among Celtics, as questions have shifted from, Will Tatum return this season? to, When will Tatum return this season? A home game. That was all Tatum was willing to share with us.
“I don’t care who we play,” said Tatum, “but it’s going to be a home game.”
In the meantime, the Celtics will lean on Tatum’s co-star, Jaylen Brown. The four-time All-Star is not trying to be Tatum, but he does understand that his role on the court will be expanded, notably as a playmaker.
“I feel like I’ve shown that at different points of my career, and that’s the narrative that everybody wants to go with, but I’m going to approach it the same way I’ve always approached it,” said Brown. “Obviously, I’m gonna have more responsibility with Jayson not being here, but also there’s a chance for other guys to step up. So, [it’s about] empowering other guys, trusting your teammates more, trying to accelerate guys’ learning curve and playing some good basketball. I think that’s what people want to see.”
Likewise, Brown is expanding his leadership off the court, or, as he concedes, embracing the community and putting his authentic self out there a little more. He invited every member of the Celtics to join him as a guest of the New England Patriots on Sunday, and on Monday he was joined at media day by Bill Nye the Science Guy, who performed experiments alongside Brown and his teammates at the practice facility.
“He’s naturally pretty good at rallying the troops,” Hauser said of Brown. “On Sunday, he had a bunch of guys go with him to the Patriots game. Whoever was available went with him, so stuff like that is cool. A lot of guys who went were new faces, and it’s a good chance for them to get to know Jaylen and him to get know them and create those bonds early, and then hopefully just skyrocket from there.”
Hauser is among the returning rotation players who will also see an expanded role in Tatum’s absence, along with Derrick White, Payton Pritchard and Neemias Queta. That group, with Brown, is the early favorite for a starting five, leaving newcomers Anfernee Simons, Luka Garza, Chris Boucher and Josh Minott to come off the bench. From the outside, it is not as inspiring a group as Boston’s teams from the past decade, but internally there is hope that everyone can collectively hold the fort in Tatum’s absence.
“It’s a different team,” said Queta. “We lost a lot of the main voices in the locker room, a lot of our veteran leadership. It’s part of our growth. As younger guys, we also gotta find our voice, be more vocal. It’s going to be like a committee thing. We’ve all got to improve a little bit more and just contribute a little more with our voices. Everybody put in their little bit more, their 5%, and go from there.”
In that sense, then, even though just about everything has changed, things are the same around Boston. “Kaizen” — the growth mindset — is still emblazoned above their weight room, a calling card for the Celtics. Through hard work comes improvement, and if everyone buys in, maybe, just maybe, they can bridge the gap to Tatum’s return.
“Every year,” the goal should be to win a championship, said Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla. “It should be.
“It’s to do everything to go after the process of winning a championship, because I think there’s a ton that’s out of your control. But at the end of the day the process of winning is the ultimate goal, and that will forever be the goal as long as you coach. And if you don’t have that, you shouldn’t do it. I have no idea what’s going to happen, but I do know we’ll treat it as such that we will have the process of winning every single day.”
BOSTON — It has been nearly five months since Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum ruptured his right Achilles tendon in the second round of the NBA playoffs, but Tuesday will mark one of the most difficult days of his recovery, as his teammates take the practice court for the first time of the 2025-26 campaign.
“Now it’s a tough spot to be in, because the team is practicing tomorrow, and I won’t be able to be out there,” Tatum said from Monday’s media day festivities. “I’m certain when the season starts and I’m not out there, that’ll be mentally challenging, but you just try to look for bright days when you can get it.”
One of those days came over the weekend, when for the first time since the injury Tatum took the practice court, getting in a light non-contact workout and sharing video with his fans on social media.
Houston Rockets superstar Kevin Durant — the premier example of how to come back healthy from an Achilles injury — was as surprised as everyone else at the speed with which Tatum returned to the court:
“He’s doing everything he can to get back, and we don’t know when that’s going to be, but hopefully it’s this season,” said Sam Hauser, who is among a large contingent of Celtics who have been working out all summer in Boston, where Tatum has been rehabbing every day. ” He’s the first one in and last one out.”
This is a common refrain among Celtics, as questions have shifted from, Will Tatum return this season? to, When will Tatum return this season? A home game. That was all Tatum was willing to share with us.
“I don’t care who we play,” said Tatum, “but it’s going to be a home game.”
In the meantime, the Celtics will lean on Tatum’s co-star, Jaylen Brown. The four-time All-Star is not trying to be Tatum, but he does understand that his role on the court will be expanded, notably as a playmaker.
“I feel like I’ve shown that at different points of my career, and that’s the narrative that everybody wants to go with, but I’m going to approach it the same way I’ve always approached it,” said Brown. “Obviously, I’m gonna have more responsibility with Jayson not being here, but also there’s a chance for other guys to step up. So, [it’s about] empowering other guys, trusting your teammates more, trying to accelerate guys’ learning curve and playing some good basketball. I think that’s what people want to see.”
Likewise, Brown is expanding his leadership off the court, or, as he concedes, embracing the community and putting his authentic self out there a little more. He invited every member of the Celtics to join him as a guest of the New England Patriots on Sunday, and on Monday he was joined at media day by Bill Nye the Science Guy, who performed experiments alongside Brown and his teammates at the practice facility.
“He’s naturally pretty good at rallying the troops,” Hauser said of Brown. “On Sunday, he had a bunch of guys go with him to the Patriots game. Whoever was available went with him, so stuff like that is cool. A lot of guys who went were new faces, and it’s a good chance for them to get to know Jaylen and him to get know them and create those bonds early, and then hopefully just skyrocket from there.”
Hauser is among the returning rotation players who will also see an expanded role in Tatum’s absence, along with Derrick White, Payton Pritchard and Neemias Queta. That group, with Brown, is the early favorite for a starting five, leaving newcomers Anfernee Simons, Luka Garza, Chris Boucher and Josh Minott to come off the bench. From the outside, it is not as inspiring a group as Boston’s teams from the past decade, but internally there is hope that everyone can collectively hold the fort in Tatum’s absence.
“It’s a different team,” said Queta. “We lost a lot of the main voices in the locker room, a lot of our veteran leadership. It’s part of our growth. As younger guys, we also gotta find our voice, be more vocal. It’s going to be like a committee thing. We’ve all got to improve a little bit more and just contribute a little more with our voices. Everybody put in their little bit more, their 5%, and go from there.”
In that sense, then, even though just about everything has changed, things are the same around Boston. “Kaizen” — the growth mindset — is still emblazoned above their weight room, a calling card for the Celtics. Through hard work comes improvement, and if everyone buys in, maybe, just maybe, they can bridge the gap to Tatum’s return.
“Every year,” the goal should be to win a championship, said Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla. “It should be.
“It’s to do everything to go after the process of winning a championship, because I think there’s a ton that’s out of your control. But at the end of the day the process of winning is the ultimate goal, and that will forever be the goal as long as you coach. And if you don’t have that, you shouldn’t do it. I have no idea what’s going to happen, but I do know we’ll treat it as such that we will have the process of winning every single day.”
Trae Young isn’t quite at “disappointment” yet when it comes to his lack of a contract extension with the Atlanta Hawks, but he’s close.
Young, speaking at the team’s media day on Monday, was asked about not having a new deal entering training camp this fall. Young is eligible for a four-year, $229 million extension with the franchise. Though he tried to downplay it a bit and insisted that his focus was elsewhere, it’s on the back of his mind.
“I don’t know [about] the word disappointment. I mean, maybe, for sure,” Young said, via ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk. “For me, I’m so focused. I’m more happy about the team that we got going into this season. I’m blessed, bro. I wasn’t stressing about anything. If something happened, it happened. If it didn’t, I still got time.”
Young averaged 24.2 points and a league-high 11.6 assists per game last season while picking up the fourth All-Star nod of his career. The Hawks went just 40-42 last season, however, and missed the playoffs for the second straight campaign under head coach Quin Snyder.
The former No. 5 overall pick out of Oklahoma is entering the eighth season in the league. He has two years left on a five-year, $215 million deal he signed with the franchise ahead of the 2022-23 campaign, and he’s got a player option on that contract for next season before he hits free agency in 2027.
Though Young can still get his extension done, it’s unclear where the two sides are at on that front.
Regardless, Young is trying to focus on getting the Hawks back into the postseason. The team made several major moves this past offseason, including bringing in Kristaps Porzingis from the Boston Celtics and Nickeil Alexander-Walker from the Minnesota Timberwolves. They also struck a one-year, $11 million deal with Luke Kennard in free agency.
“I’m focused on this team. I’m focused on right now,” Young said. “I got a great team going into the season that you can’t say I’ve had [before]. So I’m even more excited about that. Who knows what the future is for me. But right now I’m here and I’m present like me and Coach [Snyder] have been talking about. I’m ready to go.”
Trae Young isn’t quite at “disappointment” yet when it comes to his lack of a contract extension with the Atlanta Hawks, but he’s close.
Young, speaking at the team’s media day on Monday, was asked about not having a new deal entering training camp this fall. Young is eligible for a four-year, $229 million extension with the franchise. Though he tried to downplay it a bit and insisted that his focus was elsewhere, it’s on the back of his mind.
“I don’t know [about] the word disappointment. I mean, maybe, for sure,” Young said, via ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk. “For me, I’m so focused. I’m more happy about the team that we got going into this season. I’m blessed, bro. I wasn’t stressing about anything. If something happened, it happened. If it didn’t, I still got time.”
Young averaged 24.2 points and a league-high 11.6 assists per game last season while picking up the fourth All-Star nod of his career. The Hawks went just 40-42 last season, however, and missed the playoffs for the second straight campaign under head coach Quin Snyder.
The former No. 5 overall pick out of Oklahoma is entering the eighth season in the league. He has two years left on a five-year, $215 million deal he signed with the franchise ahead of the 2022-23 campaign, and he’s got a player option on that contract for next season before he hits free agency in 2027.
Though Young can still get his extension done, it’s unclear where the two sides are at on that front.
Regardless, Young is trying to focus on getting the Hawks back into the postseason. The team made several major moves this past offseason, including bringing in Kristaps Porzingis from the Boston Celtics and Nickeil Alexander-Walker from the Minnesota Timberwolves. They also struck a one-year, $11 million deal with Luke Kennard in free agency.
“I’m focused on this team. I’m focused on right now,” Young said. “I got a great team going into the season that you can’t say I’ve had [before]. So I’m even more excited about that. Who knows what the future is for me. But right now I’m here and I’m present like me and Coach [Snyder] have been talking about. I’m ready to go.”
