Trae Young’s Delayed Debut with the Washington Wizards
Trae Young’s highly anticipated first appearance for the Washington Wizards has been delayed by at least a month due to ongoing recovery from injuries. The star guard is currently nursing issues related to the MCL and quad in his right leg, which have kept him off the court since his trade from the Atlanta Hawks.
According to NBA insider Shams Charania from ESPN, Young will not be re-evaluated until post-All-Star break, which means his debut with the Wizards may not occur until their game against the Indiana Pacers on February 19 at the earliest.
Young’s Career and Contract Situation
Before his trade earlier in the month, Young had dedicated his entire professional career to the Hawks, being selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. Now in the fourth year of a massive five-year contract worth $215 million, he faces the possibility of entering free agency this summer, holding a player option worth $49 million for the following season.
Challenges This Season
This season has been particularly challenging for Young as he has participated in only 10 games, grappling with an MCL sprain along with a right quad contusion that has led to ongoing discomfort. In his first press conference as a Wizard, Young emphasized the importance of his health, stating that he is committed to returning only when he is fully ready to contribute effectively.
“Coming over here doing these physicals, they want to make sure I’m right and things like that,” Young explained. “I don’t want to come back and not be myself for this team and for this city. So I’ll just leave it up to them to make sure they let you know when I’m coming back — hopefully soon.”
Updates on his recovery status are expected to be released soon as fans eagerly await his return to action.
