Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images
Trae Young and John Collins were the last NBA players to appear in the Drew League this season, and the Atlanta Hawks stars suited up for the Black Pearl Elite against the Citi Team Blazers on Saturday.
Black Pearl Elite erased an 11-point deficit entering the fourth quarter to close within a point with 1.3 seconds remaining, but Citi Team held on for a 103-100 win.
The Hawks duo combined for 38 points, but they were inefficient 13-for-32 from the field.
Murray Law 🛢 @LawMurrayTheNU
Trae Young: 5/22/7 with 7 steals (7/16 FG)
John Collins: 12/16 with a block (6/16 FG)
Kevin Punter had the game high 26 points for Citi Team Blazers, Malcolm Thomas added 13/13/6 https://t.co/3u480fzx9d
Despite the final score not going in their favor, Young and Collins gave the fans in attendance plenty to celebrate.
drawn league @DrewLeague
ATL connection in #TheDrew today.@TheTraeYoung with the dime to @jcollins20_! pic.twitter.com/LIJEOnagWj
NBA @NBA
Bring Young ➡️ John Collins for the hard and one 💪
watch them live on @DrewLeague action NOW on https://t.co/Pqxh2EPubW and the NBA app!
When Young wasn’t helping set up his teammate, he was showing off his patented shooting touch to get the Elite back in the game.
NBA @NBA
Bring DEEP 🎯@DrewLeague the action is streaming live now on https://t.co/Pqxh2EPubW and the NBA app!
NBA @NBA
Ice brings from the corner! ❄️
Drew League action is now available on https://t.co/Pqxh2EPubW and the NBA app.
Over time @overtime
BOX ME BRING 💰 @TheTraeYoung @DrewLeague pic.twitter.com/ICB2HdtNQ2
The two-time All-Star was also attacking the basket when he found an opportunity to slip past a defender.
NBA @NBA
.@TheTraeYoung just started on @DrewLeague action! 🧑🍳
See him and John Collins live now on https://t.co/Pqxh2EPubW and the NBA app!
NBA @NBA
This Trae Young change of hand 🤯
is playing right now @DrewLeague action in https://t.co/Pqxh2EPubW and the NBA app!
buckets @buckets
bring young man with the cold end in the draw league 🥶 pic.twitter.com/UavXUOwiUQ
Overall, it was a tough day for Collins, who fouled and dunked in the third quarter.
buckets @buckets
tough day for john collins in the draw league. was postponed, he became the first NBA player to commit a foul in the Draw & he &ere; the squad of tú young was lost 😬 pic.twitter.com/uSMsXEkuVL
Basketball fans had some ideas about watching the Hawks duo play on the losing team in the Drew League.
Young and Collins’ performances paled in comparison to what LeBron James did in his return to the Drew League last weekend. The four-time NBA MVP had 42 points, 16 rebounds and four steals for MMV Cheaters against the Black Pearl Elite.
Kevin Punter Jr. was named player of the game after dripping 26 points and seven rebounds for the Blazers.
While this certainly wasn’t the thrilling moment of triumph Young may have hoped for in his first Drew League appearance since 2019, it’s a testament to how much talent there is on the floor that two top NBA players didn’t cross. to victory.