Trae Young: “Sh*t ain’t really fun being a villain”

Hawks star Trae Young recently addressed the perception of him as a villain in the NBA, acknowledging the impact it has on his experience on the court. During an appearance on Draymond Green’s podcast, Young shared his thoughts on the role and the reactions he receives from fans.

“Sh*t ain’t really fun being a villain,” Young expressed candidly. “I kind of feed off the crowd. I come out playing, trying to win, trying to put on a show. If the fans want to get into it, I just feed off that energy.”

Young recounted instances where he faced hostile chants from opposing fans, including derogatory remarks and being labeled as “overrated.” He emphasized that his focus remains on his game and striving for victory, rather than engaging in back-and-forth banter with the crowd.

The 22-year-old point guard highlighted how the Boston Celtics fans’ perception of him shifted during their playoff series, culminating in a game-winning shot that left him looking at the crowd. He reiterated that his interactions with fans are primarily fueled by the energy they bring to the game.

“I come out playing, trying to win, trying to put on a show and I mean if the fans want to get into it, like with the Boston thing, like, they started yelling it in Game 5 late in the game [“Overrated!”],” he said. “I didn’t say nothing to any Boston fans. I think they was all cool with me the whole time. And then Game 5 when they’re up 3-1, that’s what happened. And then we hit the game-winner and that’s why I’m looking at them. I really just feed off of the crowd.”