Trae Young claimed that the Hawks would have won the 2021 NBA title if he didn't get hurt vs. the Bucks

Back during the 2021 NBA playoffs, the Atlanta Hawks made one of the more surprising postseason runs in recent memory. Led by Trae Young, the Hawks eliminated the Knicks and upset the top-seeded Sixers before ultimately falling in six games against the Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Young, though, is convinced that the series — and subsequent NBA Finals against the Suns — would have played out differently if he never suffered a fluke injury from stepping on an official’s foot in Game 3.

Speaking on his From the Point podcast, Young said that the injury still haunts him because he was certain the Hawks would have won the title with him healthy.

Trae explains why Hawks would've won the title if he didn't get hurt in 2021 ECF

(via From the Point with @TheTraeYoung) pic.twitter.com/V5GHW3bi4Z

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 12, 2023

After Young’s injury in that game, the Bucks rallied in the fourth quarter to win, 113-102, and take a 2-1 lead in the series. And while it’s easy to roast Young for the take, it’s important to remember that the Bucks would have been without Giannis Antetokounmpo in this scenario as he also suffered an injury that kept him out until the NBA Finals. Young was also playing at an incredible level in that postseason.

Yet, in the two seasons since that playoff run, the Hawks — even with a healthy Young — have been unable to advance beyond the first round (they made the playoffs from the Play-In Tournament both seasons). Young admitted trying to resist the notion that the Hawks already had their chance.

NBA fans also had thoughts on Young’s comments.