“I talk to God every day. He is my best friend. They play football in my garden. I think I see Messi.” bring young he chose part of the lyrics of the famous rapper Kanye West to accompany a beautiful photo wearing the jersey of the God of Football -the three-star one that is not available in our country- in the preview of the match that his team, atlanta falcons, He played against Spurs. The NBA star had expressly asked for it – and in public – after being captivated by the World Cup Chip. And, when he got it, he wore it with pride. The point guard’s fanaticism with Leo is nothing new. When Argentina were champions, three months ago, he posted another post with two words “Wow, Messi” and the icon of a goat, symbolism which means The GOAT, the best ever. He wasn’t the only one, of course. James Harden, Dirk Nowitzki and Donovan Mitchell all posted similar messages, but Trae’s weakness is particular. Maybe it’s that he feels identified with Messi, his body and his style. Both are small for their sport, but they shine with their creativity and determination. Young is a shooter, a scorer, who takes risks and always goes forward, with a character and temperament that stands out. Some of these virtues can be found in Messi. Of course, the difference is that Leo has a much lower profile than Trae, which tends to provoke his rivals and, above all, the fans. His argument with Knicks fans in Madison is famous. What is clear is the admiration Messi commands in the sporting world, regardless of the country and not even the popularity of football there.

Young was born September 19, 1998 in Oklahoma, far beyond the regrets of many African Americans who have excelled in the sport. Rayford and Candice, his parents, had a very good economic background when Trae came into the world, mainly thanks to Rayford’s jobs, first as a professional basketball player (he played in Europe after graduating from Texas Tech) then as a hardware vendor. doctors. But both had not had everything in their life and they wanted him to be aware of the privileges he had. For this reason, despite the fact that he had a beautiful house, avant-garde clothes and latest generation shoes, they enrolled him in a primary school with fewer resources and his father took charge of take him to play slam dunks in nearby towns, so he can grow his chest and learn how to play, compete with street codes. I also woke him up very early, before 6am, to make him do all kinds of exercises, individual technique and punches. In fact, the routine of throwing 100 shots every time he set foot on a pitch belonged to his father.

It’s no surprise that Trae is a figurehead at Norman North High School. An injury caused him to lose his first year, but in the second the explosion his father had been waiting for happened. The point guard, showing his shooting and scoring resources, averaged 25 points and the team won the state tournament in 2015. In his third year, he continued to progress in his game until which he climbed to 34.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists to be voted Oklahoma State’s Most Outstanding Player. His senior year averages (42.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4 assists) have already had an impact on another level, creating chaos in this college recruiting process. It had to be decided where the boy would continue and the proposals were too many, including the most prestigious faculties, such as Duke, Kentucky and Kansas.

But the kid was always clear: I wanted to be close to home and play for a good manager. That’s why he chose Oklahoma and a respected veteran like Lon Kruger. Going step by step was his approach. He also chose a career (psychology) that would help him in his basketball future and his debut was so good, scoring 43 in one game and giving 22 assists in another, that he was already being compared to Steph Curry . His talent and work ethic allowed him to achieve a dream first season, averaging 27.4 points, 8.7 assists and 4.7 digs. He didn’t need to do more merits than those for his NBA status to grow, being one of the main prospects.

Something that showed when he was picked very high in the 2018 draft: he fell during the fifth draft, by Dallas, who quickly moved the board to trade him to Atlanta against luka soic, nothing less. A move that has generated controversy and comparisons between players, although both have been so good that they haven’t advanced much further than that. There were also doubts about what Trae could do, mainly because of his height and physique, something that also happened to Messi. Trae prevailed over the critics, with his skill and determination, managing to battle Doncic for the Rookie of the Year award. He averaged 19 points, 8 assists and 3.7 rebounds, with some very notable moments in the second half of the campaign, in which he hit 24.7 points and 9.2 assists, after the All Star Game.

Fundamental was, in the growth of the base, to have been able to meet another of his idols, Steve Nash, this Canadian point guard who gave a show in the 2000s, being MVP of the regular phase twice. The two football fans attended the 2019 Champions League final and met at half-time to talk about joining a training session weeks later at a California gym called Shoot 360.

Young asked him for advice on improving his midrange game and they also discussed the importance of using angles on the court, lowering your hips to help change direction and analyzing games in face-to-face. “I asked him how he warmed up, how he worked his legs and what was the formula for playing so long at a high level. It was more me questioning him, looking at things and absorbing what he saw every time he caused a pick and roll,” revealed Young, who the following season soared to 29.7 points and 9, 3 goal assists, becoming one of the best point guards in the league. competition, a status he retains today, already in his fifth season as a professional (26.7 goals and 10 assists).

It was one of many times Trae worked off-season, away from his family. There was no comfort stopping him from realizing his dream: to be an NBA figure. Young didn’t have the obstacles of other colleagues, but he showed the inner fire he needs to succeed. The one Messi had, his great reference.

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