Trae Young’s Locker Room Speech After the Trade
With Trae Young’s departure, Atlanta closes an era: Risacher recounts the four-time All-Star’s speech after the win against the Pelicans
Atlanta has said goodbye to Trae Young, and even if his trade to the Washington Wizards didn’t come completely out of the blue, the emotional impact was enormous. For Hawks fans – but above all for the locker room.
Young arrived in Atlanta in 2018 and became the face of the franchise for more than six seasons, leading the team to multiple playoff appearances and to a historic Eastern Conference Finals in 2021.
Aware that the trade with the Wizards would be finalized just minutes later, Trae chose to address the team. A simple, direct speech, full of genuine emotion. He thanked everyone – from teammates to staff – saying he would always remain close to the Hawks and that seeing them win, even without him, would make him happy. An intense moment, before sitting on the bench with the team and being traded while the game was still ongoing.
It was intense. There were really a lot of emotions… He let us know that he would always be there for us, anytime, and that he’d be happy to see us succeed. And that’s exactly how we feel about him as well. I only arrived last season, but I feel like this is a legacy, and I was lucky to be part of it.
Zaccharie Risacher
His words resonated especially with the younger players, like Zaccharie Risacher. The French talent, who joined just last season, described how profound that moment was. For him, Young had been a point of reference from day one – not just an NBA star, but a leader, always ready to support his teammates.
Risacher and Johnson, the new faces of the Hawks
On the court, it was Risacher himself who stole the spotlight. Against New Orleans, he scored 25 points, leading Atlanta to victory with a performance full of confidence and personality. An important signal – almost a symbolic passing of the torch – even though the franchise’s new face going forward will be Jalen Johnson.
The future, however, remains unwritten. Young leaves Atlanta after a season hampered by a knee injury and just ten games played, yet still with leader-level numbers. Risacher, the first overall pick in the 2024 Draft, represents a possible new direction, even if his name is already circulating in trade rumors.
The Hawks stand at a crossroads. They say goodbye to their symbolic figure and search for a new identity. One thing is certain: after Trae Young’s departure, nothing will be the same again. And perhaps this is exactly where Atlanta must begin anew.