Trae Young fully embraced the role of NBA villain during the Atlanta Hawks' first-round playoff victory over the New York Knicks.
Draymond Green knows a thing or two about being a high-profile NBA villain, and the Warriors forward has loved watching the Hawks star own that role this postseason.
Green, one of the NBA's lead villains, had some advice for Young on how to deal with the heel role going forward.
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"Not only has he taken on that role, but he is producing," Green told Bleacher Report's Taylor Rooks. "You know he walking off the court, 'I see ya'll in the A.' He talking big boy stuff. I love that. To see him talking it, and he walking it.
"As far as him taking on that villain role, like, enjoy it, it's a beautiful thing. But know it comes with a lot of s--t. A lot of hate. A lot of responsibility. Because, I mean, shame on that man that go talk it and can't walk it. When you have a bad game and you're not the villain, 'Ah, he had a bad game. All right, whatever.' Move to the next. But when you have a bad game and you the villain, and everybody want to s--t on you. But you got to block that noise out. But at the same time as you blocking it out, you're also reading it because need it as fuel, like you need to prove them wrong."
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Only in his third NBA season and with just five playoff games under his belt, Young still has a ways to go to become one of the NBA's premiere villains.
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But after taking a bow in Madison Square Garden while eliminating the Knicks, Young is well on his way to elite villain status.
He'll have a chance to add to his villain résumé in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the top-seeded Philadelphia 76ers.