'That was nasty': NBA star helped off after 'awful' incident
A scary moment that saw Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young helped from the court has left NBA viewers praying for the young gun’s wellbeing.
Young exited Wednesday’s loss to the Miami Heat early in the second quarter after landing awkwardly on his right ankle.
The 21-year-old was writhing on the floor in agony after stepping through the defence and landing on the foot of Miami’s Justise Winslow.
The Hawks confirmed shortly after the frightening incident that he would take no further part in the match.
Prayers up to Trae Young who went down with an apparent ankle injury. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/6BLEFO2v0u
— House of Highlights (@HoHighlights) October 30, 2019
Trae Young (right ankle sprain) will not return to tonight's game.
— Hawks PR (@HawksPR) October 30, 2019
Replays showed Young’s ankle twist as his foot made contact with Winslow, with several members of the Atlanta medical staff assisting him off the court and into the locker room.
Hawks teammates looked particularly concerned for the guard, with fans shaken up by the scary incident.
NOOOOO!!!!....Not ICE TRAE!!! ...that ankle twist looked horrible. OUCH!!!
— Mike / LakerTalk 🏀 (@MikeSportsLA) October 30, 2019
Damn that’s a shame what happened to trae young that looked pretty nasty
— Brian Jenks (@brian_jenks) October 30, 2019
damn Trae Young done got hurt. Oweee mane. That fall looked real nasty.
— . (@dirtynotez) October 30, 2019
prayers up for trae🙏🏻
— 🅿.Loading (@Patricckk_16) October 30, 2019
Trae young’s ankle injury was nasty :( hope he heals up good
— Brian 🐝 (@786Voice) October 30, 2019
I hope trae young is ok. That was nasty.
— Adam Rigoli (@RigoliRavioli) October 30, 2019
Damn prayers up to trae young. Hope he heals that injury man🙏🏼🙏🏼
— overhaul (@toca_donations) October 30, 2019
Trae young just had a nasty ankle injury. Hoping for a quick recovery
— Wisco Sports (@Dongard12) October 30, 2019
Oh man that’s a nasty ankle sprain for Trae Young.
— Dustin (@dustinjkent) October 30, 2019
This is not good.
Trae Young being helped off.@5ReasonsSports pic.twitter.com/N8co5gKUB6— Ethan J. Skolnick of @5ReasonsSports (@EthanJSkolnick) October 30, 2019
Despite the worrying early indications, the severity of the injury doesn’t seem to be as bad as initially feared.
Young reportedly underwent x-rays, with the player and his team “optimistic” that the injury won’t keep him out of action for long.
X-Rays were negative on Atlanta guard Trae Young’s right ankle, and there’s optimism that this isn’t a serious injury, league sources tell ESPN. Young will undergo an MRI soon.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 30, 2019
Trae Young talked after the game about his ankle injury. pic.twitter.com/guqQIMOhH1
— FOX Sports: Hawks (@HawksOnFSSE) October 30, 2019
The 21-year-old Young was named an NBA’s Eastern Conference Player of the Week in the season’s opening week, when he averaged 34 points and nine assists per game through three games and shot 52% from three-point range.
Young was the runner-up in last season’s Rookie of the Year race behind the Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Dončić and was the No. 5 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. He missed only one game in the entire 2018-19 season.
The injury ended up being a double blow for the Hawks, who went down 112-97 against the Heat.
Tyler Herro top scored for Miami with 29 points, as Jimmy Butler (21 points) provided solid back up.
A game-high 30 points for Hawks forward John Collins proved couldn't prevent Atlanta from losing their second game in four.
With agencies
