Young's recently adjusted to pace of the NBA

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Photo credit © Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta Hawks rookie point guard Trae Young joined Dukes & Bell Thursday to talk about his rookie season, competing with Luka Doncic for the Rookie of the Year award, and who has helped him adapt to life in the NBA.

Young told the guys that he's started to adjust to the pace of the NBA.

“For me, everything is starting to slow down a little bit more. I just needed some games under my belt to get use to the travel, the back-to-backs. After that first little part of the season, where I was able to play a lot of games, it started to slow down for me.”

The truth is definitely in the stats.

Of Young's five 30-point games this season, four have come in the last 30 days. And he's starting to set differentiate himself among rookies throughout history.

Trae Young is the first NBA rookie with multiple 33+ point, 10+ assist games in the same season since Steph Curry in 2010

— Mike Conti (@MikeConti929) February 28, 2019

Trae Young splashed eight 3-pointers last night for the @ATLHawks. Did you know only two rookies have ever hit nine 3-pointers in a game & only only seven other rookies have drained eight. Special feat last night for Trae Young. pic.twitter.com/9wodwc3wM3

— Knox Bardeen (@knoxbardeen) February 26, 2019

Trae told the guys what it’s like to compete against Doncic in the skills competition and for rookie of the year.

“No nerves. I wanted to win, but I knew me and him going up against each other in the skills competition, that it would be a big deal,” Young said. “He’s one of my good friends, and we will be going against each other for a long time.”

When asked who has helped him adapt to life in the NBA...

 “The veterans have been great for me. Vince has been a big piece helping me; more off the court with the hype coming in. He was the number five pick. Jeremy (Lin) on the court, and with the stress of handling being an NBA rookie, they’ve been great.”