Trae Young returned to Atlanta on Friday for the first time as a Washington Wizards player, but his reception was not entirely warm.

Videos circulating online showed the Atlanta Hawks fans booing the former franchise star during pregame introductions, sparking debate among NBA fans. Some questioned why Young was being booed after what appeared to be a relatively peaceful departure from the organization.

NBA Fans React to Trae Young’s Reception in Atlanta During His Return After Trade

Young spent more than seven seasons in Atlanta after the Hawks acquired his draft rights from Dallas in a 2018 draft-night trade. He became a four-time All-Star and led the franchise to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021. He also became the team’s all-time leader in assists and 3-pointers.

However, the Hawks decided to go in a different direction in January 2026, trading Young to Washington for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. The move came after Young dealt with injuries, while the team won games during his absences.

The departure did not appear to involve a public falling-out. In an interview with Andscape after the trade, Young explained that he wanted to leave on good terms.

“I feel like if there was [a right way to leave], this was the most right way for me to leave. And yeah, no bad blood between either side,” he said.

His farewell message to Atlanta fans carried a similar tone. Young wrote that bringing a championship to the city had always been his goal, while acknowledging that injuries and setbacks had prevented the team from reaching its full potential.

That history is probably why some fans questioned the boos. One supporter wrote, “Booed for getting traded lmaoo,”

While another asked, “Yo the (expletive) they booing for? Am I missing something??”

Another called the reception “Weirdo behavior Atlanta.”

There was also some disagreement over the footage itself. One user claimed the video came from Atlanta’s 6th Man section, which allegedly boos starting lineups as part of its routine:

“This is fake news. This video was filmed from the 6th man section who boo all starting lineups every game. They were boo’ing before he got called already.”

The claim has not been independently established, so the clip still should not be taken as proof that the entire arena was against him.

Young, meanwhile, admitted that returning as an opponent felt strange. The Wizards guard finished with 23 points and 10 assists, although Washington lost 139-132 in the NBA Cup group stage encounter.

Speaking after the game, he said, “I don’t even know how to describe the feeling. I mean, it was different. It was cool for me.”

He also explained that the experience was not something he expected to feel every time he played in Atlanta, but that the first visit was bound to be different. Young even joked that the occasion had affected his sleep in the days leading up to the game.

For a player who spent so many years representing the city, the first return was always likely to bring mixed emotions. But the debate over the reception shows that not everyone in Atlanta views his departure the same way.