Trae Young
A fearless point guard who redefined deep shooting and playmaking, becoming the emotional engine of a surprise conference finals run.
Born 1998 (age 28)·American basketball player·Birthday: September 19·Generation Z
Biography
Trae Young arrived in the NBA as a polarizing figure, a slender Oklahoma guard whose audacious shooting range and flashy passes drew immediate comparisons and skepticism. He silenced critics not by changing, but by amplifying his style, quickly becoming the Atlanta Hawks' centerpiece. His game is a blend of old-school craft and modern daring, using his floater as a weapon against taller defenders and pulling up from the logo to stretch defenses beyond their limits. The pinnacle of his early career came in 2021, when he led a young Hawks team on an unexpected charge to the Eastern Conference Finals, captivating audiences with his clutch performances and unshakable confidence. More than just a scorer, Young's vision and passing create easy opportunities for his teammates, making him one of the league's most complete offensive forces.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Trae was born in 1998, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Trae Was Born
The biggest hits of 1998
#1 Movie
Saving Private Ryan
Best Picture
Shakespeare in Love
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Trae's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1998Born
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2003Started school
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2011Became a teenager
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Could drive
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2016Could vote
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2019Turned 21
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 28 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the only NCAA Division I player to ever lead the nation in both points and assists per game in a single season (2017-18).
- Led the Atlanta Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021, their deepest playoff run since 2015.
- Named an NBA All-Star in 2020 and 2022.
- Recorded a 48-point, 11-assist game in the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Did You Know?
He tied the NCAA single-game assists record with 22 dimes in a game for Oklahoma against Northwestern State.
His father, Rayford, played college basketball at Texas Tech.
He is known for his signature celebration, pointing to his wrist as if to say 'It's Ice Trae time.'
“I want to be one of the best to ever play. That's always been my goal since I was a little kid.”
