Reason #1: Allowing Him To Start Is A Vote of Confidence

For rookies in the NBA, confidence can be a major factor in how well (or how poorly) they play. If a team is worried about how a young player will transition to the rigors of professional basketball, they may decide to keep that player on the bench instead of starting them, or in some cases not even play them.

A lack of game time and experience can cause a player to have doubts about both their skill and their role with the team. They may try to do too much when they get a rare opportunity to play extended minutes. Or, on the other side of the spectrum, the lack of confidence from the coaching staff could cause them to be more timid and not play to their strengths.

The best thing the Atlanta Hawks can do when it comes to Trae Young is to immediately make him the starting point guard. Making Young the starter would be a resounding statement from the front office, a statement that says they trust him to succeed.

As a starter, Young would learn about life as a premier NBA point guard, and would be matched up against some of the best players in the world on a nightly basis. The chance to compete against great players should allow him to determine what kind of player he will become, as well as what the Hawks need from him as their leader.

Despite a difference in circumstances, Jayson Tatum was thrust into a similar situation as a rookie. When Gordon Hayward, a star player, went down for the season, Tatum was trusted with the responsibility of fitting into that role. He flourished, and if he is given the starting job, Trae Young has that same opportunity.

Next Up: Reason #2