Atlanta Hawks fans breathed a collective sigh of relief after head coach Quin Snyder confirmed that star guard Trae Young’s knee injury is not an ACL tear. The 25-year-old point guard suffered a right knee sprain during the team’s 117–112 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night, prompting immediate concern among teammates and supporters.

“The most important thing is it is not his ACL,” Snyder stated postgame, noting that Young will undergo an MRI scan either late Wednesday or Thursday to assess the severity of the sprain and establish a recovery timeline.

The frightening moment unfolded midway through the second quarter when Young — who has been averaging 20.8 points and 9.5 assists per game this season — was standing beneath the rim. Teammate Mouhamed Gueye was pushed by Noah Clowney of the Nets and fell backward into Young’s leg, bending it awkwardly. The All-Star guard collapsed instantly, clutching his knee in pain as the crowd fell silent.

After a few tense minutes on the court, Young managed to get up and jog to the bench during a timeout, showing his trademark resilience. Despite his eagerness to return, Coach Snyder quickly made the call to substitute him out after just 17 seconds of play upon noticing his limited mobility.

“Trae didn’t want to come out of the game — he’s such a competitor,” Snyder said. “He told me, ‘Just give me a couple of minutes,’ and I said, ‘If I don’t like what I see, I’m taking you out.’ That’s exactly what happened.”

The injury comes at a challenging time for the Hawks, who currently hold a 2–3 record and are striving to build early momentum in the Eastern Conference. Young’s absence — however long it lasts — will undoubtedly test Atlanta’s depth and adaptability.

Replacing his elite playmaking and floor vision will be no easy feat. Last season, Young led the league with 11.6 assists per game, orchestrating much of Atlanta’s offense. Snyder emphasized that the team would need a collective effort to fill that void, highlighting Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Luke Kennard, Dyson Daniels, and Jalen Johnson as potential secondary facilitators.

“Anytime a player of Trae’s caliber — someone who orchestrates our offense — goes down, it’s a major adjustment,” Snyder explained. “We’ve got to rely on the pass, spacing, and teamwork to create advantages.”

Though the Hawks avoided the worst-case scenario, the coming days will be crucial in determining how severe Young’s knee sprain truly is — and how soon he can return to lead his team on the court.