Trae Young on Celtics fans’ profanity-laced chants: ‘That’s just total respect’
Celtics #Celtics
BOSTON — Trae Young isn’t the first opposing star to get profanity-laced chants directed his way in the NBA Playoffs from the TD Garden crowd. He also won’t be the last such player to get that treatment from Celtics fans. But Young did get those chants in Game 5 of the first-round series, including one that went “(expletive) Trae Young.”
That’s not even the first time Young has heard those chants on the road. During the 2021 playoffs against the Knicks, Madison Square Garden fans tried to get into Young’s head consistently. But Young got the last laugh against the Knicks in a 4-1 series win.
For at least Game 5, Young once again quieted the home crowd as he sunk the deep game-winning 3-pointer to boost the Hawks to a 119-117 win over the Celtics in Game 5. Young added he has no issue with Celtics fans chanting his name.
“When people do that, I think that’s just total respect,” Young said. “They ain’t doing that to everybody.”
Young said the current Celtics series hasn’t felt like the Knicks one from a couple years ago. He pointed out Knicks fans were relentless, starting cheers with 10 minutes left in the first quarter. That hasn’t been the case from Celtics fans. Young has even gone on record to say he’s felt Celtics fans are nicer than the Knicks faithful.
Of course, Celtics fans have been in the news for directing some hate toward players. They were loud and got into it with Kyrie Irving during last season’s playoffs against the Nets. Grayson Allen drew Celtics fans’ ire in the second round. The “(expletive) you Draymond” chants came quick and often during the NBA Finals to the point where the Warriors commented on it at length during the series.
Regardless of any chants, both teams will shift their attention to Game 6 on Thursday in Atlanta. The Celtics still lead the series 3-2 and have a chance to end the Hawks’ season. But the Hawks have proven they’re not going to lay down without a fight as the C’s collapsed in the fourth quarter Tuesday.
“I’ve been on in the moment my whole life,” Young said. “It’s just what I do. Not afraid of it. I’ve worked too hard to be afraid of the moment.”
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