Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks have agreed to split.
The multi-time NBA All-Star is taking his talents to Washington, DC, joining the Washington Wizards for the remainder of the 2025-2026 NBA season and potentially beyond.
On Friday, Young took to social media to break his silence on the move. As expected, it was honest and detailed, as Young didn’t want to hold anything back.
Trae Young Releases a Statement
…Another Opportunity🙏🏽💯❄️ pic.twitter.com/jDk09ZI8BZ
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) January 9, 2026
“I never thought I’d be typing this. The last few years weren’t how I wanted them to be, expectations that were created for ourselves, reaching heights that Atlanta has never reached before. Bringing a championship to Atlanta was always my goal.
However, between the injuries, the setbacks, and situations that didn’t make sense, we never truly got to see our full potential. The city that raised me and taught me so much will always be a chapter in this story. However, the pain of staying the same eventually outweighed the uncertainty of change.
Change is often met with fear, but I sit but I see it as another opportunity. I’m walking into this next chapter ecstatic, with my head high and my eyes forward. It’s time to see what’s possible when the support is rea,l and the vision is clear, we move so.”
Trae Young leaves a massive imprint on the Hawks’ organization. Since 2018, he was a full-time starter, playing in over 500 games, including the playoffs.
Throughout his career, Young averaged 25.2 points while shooting 35 percent from beyond the arc. He produced 9.8 assists per game, even leading the league in the category just last year.
On four occasions, Young was an NBA All-Star and earned All-NBA in 2021-2022. While it ultimately didn’t work out as hoped for Young and the Hawks, the past can’t be erased. Young was a beloved figure in Atlanta’s basketball scene, but now he looks forward to the future.
The 27-year-old star’s future will be in the nation’s capital.
