Hawks Reveal MRI Results on Trae Young’s Injured Knee, Set Rehab Timeline

Trae Young’s MRI confirmed a right knee MCL sprain with no additional structural damage, the Atlanta Hawks said on November 1. Young, who exited October 29’s Wednesday’s game at Brooklyn, has begun rehabilitation and will be re-evaluated in approximately four weeks.

Young left late in the first quarter against the Nets after a collision around an inbounds play and did not return. Reporting from the night of the injury described it as a right knee sprain pending imaging. The latest update established the diagnosis and initial timeline. 

Trae Young Injury

An MCL sprain commonly sidelines NBA guards for several weeks, and Atlanta’s “re-evaluation in four weeks” phrasing signals a checkpoint rather than a guaranteed return date. Multiple outlets reported that Young “dodged major structural damage,” aligning with the team’s update that no further issues were found beyond the sprain. Expect incremental updates as swelling subsides and on-court progression begins. 

How the Hawks Can Cover the Minutes

GettyThe Atlanta Hawks will lean on Kristaps Porzingis more now that they know Trae Young will be out a minimum of four weeks rehabbing his injured knee.

With their lead ball-handler out, the Hawks will lean more on forward Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels as primary initiators, with more offense being run through Kristaps Porzingis. Atlanta closed out a 117-112 win over Brooklyn after Young’s exit, a game that featured balanced scoring and late execution that could preview short-term adjustments

In the first game without Young on October 31, the Hawks surged to a 128-108 NBA Cup win over the hapless Indiana Pacers. While the result was strong for the Hawks, most difficult games on the schedule will truly reveal how much Young’s impact is missed. 

Rotation tweaks typically include more second-unit pick-and-rolls, staggered minutes to keep one playmaker on the floor, and added off-ball movement to generate catch-and-shoot looks for shooters. The organization’s message remains consistent: rehab, reassess at four weeks, and avoid rushing a timeline. Reports on Saturday reiterated that plan. 

How did Trae Young Get Injured?

GettyJalen Johnson will also be called on more as a scorer and playmaker during Young’s absence from the team.

Young appeared to bang knees and buckle awkwardly on a first-quarter defensive sequence, leading to an immediate evaluation and a swift “will not return” designation. Early reports and the league’s wire noted the sprain prior to imaging; the MRI confirmed the MCL involvement the following day at Emory Sports Medicine Complex.

It’s the first major injury to a knee that Young has suffered in his career. Young has mostly been healthy while in the NBA, only once requiring surgery on ligament in his finger, and once suffering a deep bone bruise in his foot. Now in his eighth NBA season, this could be the largest amount of games he’s missed in his career. Young missed 28 games in 2023-24, 22 in 2019-20,  and 19 in 20-21, but other than that has played in at least 73 games in every other season. 

What’s Next

Young’s next formal check-in is scheduled in roughly four weeks. Until then, the Hawks will monitor day-to-day progress markers—range of motion, strength, on-court ramp-up—and the team will provide an update at that time. For now, the focus is on building a plan that gets Young back without setbacks as the schedule tightens.

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