Trae Young Says He's 'Slept On,' Calls Out 'Recency Bias' in NBA Narratives After Wizards Trade

Washington Wizards point guard Trae Young believes that the present moment represents the "most slept on" that he's ever been in his entire life, per comments made on the Pivot Podcast (26:57 mark).

"I mean, this is the most slept on I've been in my whole life," Young said on an episode that debuted Tuesday. "Like, even when I was in high school, I wasn't this slept on. Like, I felt like I could have been top five in my class. I should have been top 10. No. 1 point guard, I felt like, but I was No. 4, so...was I slept on a little bit, maybe, but this is, I mean, it's starting to... feel a certain way, but for me, I know it's all...

"I learned over the years, there's a lot of recency bias that goes on. Especially in media, and, I mean, I got a podcast too, so I'm not just throwing y'all into all the media. I know, I know what you do, but, like, I know there's a lot of recency [bias]. I know if we start winning, imagine the Wizards as a No. 1 team in the East next year. What people gonna be saying? So, it's just, like, I don't, I can't get caught up in what people are saying now."

From 2019-20 (his second NBA season) through 2024-25, Young averaged 26.5 points and 10.2 assists per game for the Atlanta Hawks. He made four All-Star Games and one All-NBA Third Team while leading Atlanta to the playoffs three times. The Hawks' playoff apex under Young was the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals.

Last year was a tough one for Young, who only played 15 games after dealing with knee, quad and back ailments. He averaged 17.9 points and 8.0 assists in 25.6 minutes per game. He also found a new NBA home after the Hawks traded him to the Wizards on Jan. 9.

It makes sense that Young feels slept on after a de-facto down year coupled with the fact that he's now playing for a Wizards team that (a) just went 17-65 and (b) hasn't had a winning season since 2017-18.

Still, an offseason of good health combined with a roster that stands to benefit from adding the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft could lead to a Young resurgence for sure.