Trae Young has taken the Atlanta Hawks to the NBA Cup semi-final where they will face the Milwaukee Bucks. The Hawks had to go through the New York Knicks to get there. A lot of people didn’t think that the Atlanta franchise could beat the in-form Knicks. But one NBA legend had full faith in them.
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Last night on Inside the NBA, Shaquille O’Neal argued with Charles Barkley, favoring the Hawks over the Knicks to qualify for the next round. Before the game, when Chuck said, “You can go ahead and move the Knicks over,” Shaq had a problem with it.
The four-time NBA Champion made hawk noise and stated, “No way. Bet it.”
After Young sealed the win for his team, he returned the favor by giving a shoutout on X to the NBA legend, encouraging his trash talk.
I hope Shaq talking his 💩 tonight too !!
Ahh- ahhh👊🏽— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) December 12, 2024
He wrote, “I hope Shaq talking his [sh*t emoji] tonight too!! Ahh-ahhh.”
Young finished the game with 22 points, five rebounds, and 11 assists. The Hawks won the matchup 108-100 at the MSG to qualify for the semi-final. Shaq has been rooting for the Hawks this season and when the matchup was against the Knicks, he had no doubt that Young and Co. would be able to pull it off with ease. After the win was sealed at the Garden, the NBA legend made an even bigger claim, favoring the Hawks superstar.
Shaquille O’Neal said Trae Young ‘owns’ the Knicks
There aren’t many players who thrive at the Garden like Young. He is in the elite group of Michael Jordan, the late, great Kobe Bryant, and Bernard King as players with the most 40-point games at the MSG. So, when the Hawks were slated to play the NBA Cup quarter-final in one of his favorite arenas, Shaq knew who to bet on.
After the game, Shaq doubled down on his praise for Young. He said, “Trae own the Knicks.” Shaq also got a nod from Ernie Johnson and fans of Inside the NBA for his spot-on prediction for the Knicks-Hawks matchup. A fan wrote on X, “Shaq said last night ‘Bet it.’ Hawks going to Vegas.”
The Hawks will play the NBA Cup semi-final against the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena.
