'King of Broadway': Breaking down the rivalry between Trae Young and the Knicks

The aged saying goes, "Time heals each wounds" -- unless you're a instrumentality of the New York Knicks and Trae Young is involved, past it conscionable makes them fester.

Young, nationalist force No. 1 for Knicks fans, returns to Madison Square Garden connected Wednesday for the NBA Cup quarterfinals (7 p.m. ET connected ESPN). Prior to being drafted astatine No. 5 successful 2018, Young was optimistic astir the anticipation of being selected by the Knicks.

"If I'm blessed capable to beryllium capable to play successful New York City, I would beryllium honored and I would beryllium consenting to get to activity and thief that franchise win," he said.

Young landed pinch the Atlanta Hawks aft a draft time swap pinch the Dallas Mavericks. Wednesday is the 20th regular-season gathering betwixt Young's Hawks and the Knicks -- they person won conscionable six of those matchups.

However, the Hawks defender has immoderate bragging authorities complete the Knicks aft helping destruct them successful the first information of the 2021 Eastern Conference playoffs. He averaged 29.2 points and 9.8 assists arsenic Atlanta bounced New York successful 5 games.

That bid sparked a feud betwixt Young and New York, starring to spontaneous "F--- Trae Young" chants from Knicks fans, moreover erstwhile the Knicks aren't playing the Hawks. Knicks fans memorably chanted the building pursuing a triumph against the Boston Celtics successful the 2021-22 play opener. But that's only the extremity of the bad-blood iceberg.

Here's a look astatine cardinal moments betwixt Young and the Knicks.

Trae takes a bow

In his first postseason quality successful 2021, Young showed retired early, dropping 32 points, 10 assists and 7 rebounds successful Game 1. He deed a runner pinch 0.9 remaining to lead Atlanta to the triumph and told the crowd to "be quiet" -- each while being the recipient of the "F--- Trae Young" chants.

"As I deed the floater, it conscionable felt for illustration everybody sewage quiet," Young said. "I was waiting for them f--- you chants again. I was excited."

New York fans took up the chant wrong the first minutes of Game 1 and it continued passim the series. It sewage disfigured successful Game 2 erstwhile a fan was banned from Madison Square Garden for spitting connected the Hawks star.

Young relished the villain role, chuckling while connected the receiving extremity of those chants. He had the past laugh, too.

In Game 5, he deed a 32-foot 3-pointer pinch 43 seconds near to crystal the game. He proceeded to return a front astatine halfway tribunal and activity goodbye to the Madison Square Garden crowd.

"I cognize wherever we are. I cognize it's a bunch of shows astir this city," Young said of the bow. "And I cognize what they do erstwhile the show is over."

Christmas Day jeers

New York fans weren't emotion festive connected Christmas Day successful 2021.

The Knicks faced the Hawks astatine location successful their first matchup since the playoffs. It was a one-sided matter pinch New York defeating Atlanta down a triple-double from constituent defender Kemba Walker.

A acquainted anti-Young chant collapsed retired during the game. There was only 1 problem -- Young wasn't playing owed to the NBA's wellness and information protocols. He fired backmost connected X aft the game.

'Lot of lights, batch of s--- talking,'

Young didn't get to respond to New York fans until March 2022, and he came prepared. The three-time NBA All-Star dropped 45 points pinch 7 assists. The Garden crowd continued to boo him, but it didn't matter successful the end.

Atlanta won 117-111 and Young didn't miss an opportunity to flick nosy astatine the fans. He said the boos weren't arsenic large arsenic he expected.

"Nah, I couldn't really perceive them, for real. It wasn't moreover that loud, to beryllium honorable pinch you," Young said.

He couldn't pinpoint what astir the Garden shape brings retired his best, calling it a nosy ambiance afloat of lights and "s--- talking."

Special kicks backfire astatine the Garden

Young's assurance was entity precocious heading into a December 2022 matchup successful the Big Apple. High capable that he arrived pinch typical kicks.

In Knicks colors, Young's sneakers publication "King of Broadway" connected the heel. However, he struggled successful the shoes. Young had conscionable 19 points connected 9-of-20 shooting from the section arsenic New York dominated for a 113-89 victory.

Young reflects connected the viral chants

Throughout the rivalry pinch the Knicks, Young has been showered pinch the chants. During an quality connected Paul George's podcast successful August, he called those chants "super funny."

Young past shared a communicative of a young woman astatine the Garden giving him the digit correct down the scorer's table.

"I'm conscionable looking astatine the reactions of each these group conscionable flipping maine off," he said. "Ten minutes successful the first quarter, I ain't do nothing."

'To the exit existent real quickly'

New York swept Atlanta during the regular play successful 2023-24, pinch Young only appearing successful 2 games -- some astatine home. But, only 1 crippled was basal to rekindle the occurrence and the Hawks prima lit it past month.

He had 23 points, 10 assists and 6 rebounds successful a 121-116 triumph against the Knicks. It marked his seventh profession 20-point, 10-assist crippled against the Knicks (regular play and playoffs), the astir by immoderate subordinate against New York since Young entered the NBA successful 2018-19, according to ESPN Research.

To adhd reproach to injury, Young poked nosy astatine the New York fans successful attendance successful Atlanta.

"I dream these New York fans find their measurement to the exit real, existent quickly," he said. "Boo, return y'all asses home."

Trae said spell location 😂 pic.twitter.com/l1OoKhwvVF

The Knicks person a chance to return the favour connected Wednesday by eliminating the Hawks from the NBA Cup pinch a win.