It’s hard to forget Trae Young’s 2019 All-Rookie appearance, when he dazzled with deep threes that instantly made him Atlanta’s face. Fast forward to 2025, and Young is still lighting it up, but off-court moments are making headlines too. This week, Young’s wife, Shelby, shared a heartfelt birthday tribute across Instagram.

Five intimate photos featuring the couple and their children, with messages like “Happy Birthday Daddy!”, “We love you so much baby,” and “I love you forever.” Mariah Carey’s Always Be My Baby played as the soundtrack in one of those stories, adding warmth to the family moment. It was a soft, humanizing counterpoint to the noise brewing in Young’s mentions. Meanwhile, the court of public opinion is humming over Young’s spat with Patrick Beverley.

The tension ignited when Beverley questioned All-Star’s effort, suggesting stars take the game for granted. Young wasn’t having it and shot back, “Relax. Let us speak for ourselves,” and doubled down in a pointed 11-minute 56-second-long video response titled “You know the bar…” on social media. Young dismantled Beverley point by point. He mocked the veteran’s most infamous moment, celebrating a 2022 Play-In win in Minnesota like it was a championship.

“I win play-in games on the road, and I’m ready to get to the playoffs. You win play-in games at home and you’re standing on the scores table acting like it’s a championship. We celebrate wins different too,” Young said. For a player often criticized for postseason shortcomings, the jab was biting. But he didn’t stop there. “I promise you, anytime you was on the court with me, I was never scared of you. I was never scared of Patty Bev.” And to make sure the point landed, Young closed his rant with Drake’s Tuscan Leather, the track with the line, “Bench players talking like starters, I hate it.”

Beverley, predictably, fired back. “You? Nah. You ain’t got it. Humble yourself. Embrace the constructive criticism.” He reminded Young that even LeBron James and Russell Westbrook have faced constant scrutiny and suggested Young hasn’t accomplished enough to demand immunity. Beverley also went further, painting a harsh picture of Young’s Hawks tenure: “Everyone that comes to Trae Young gets fired. Players don’t want to come play in Atlanta. Coaches don’t want to coach in Atlanta.”

He’s not entirely wrong about the turbulence, though. Since Young led the Hawks to the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals, the franchise has cycled through two coaches, traded core pieces like John Collins and Dejounte Murray, and struggled to reestablish itself as a playoff mainstay. The last postseason berth came in 2023. And the context matters here.

Beverley is the classic grinder, a second-round pick in 2009, who didn’t crack an NBA roster until 2013, and built his career locking up stars far more talented than himself. His reputation as a defensive pest came from giving headaches to Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and, yes, Trae Young. He earned his voice through resilience. But Young’s resume is no joke either.

Behind the trash talk of Trae Young vs Patrick Beverley

A four-time All-Star and the 2024 assist leader, he owns career averages of 25.3 points and 9.8 assists. At just 26, he’s already cemented himself as one of the league’s premier offensive engines. Last season, he finished top-10 in both scoring and assists per game, a reminder that even in down years for the Hawks, he’s still among the league’s most productive.

Then there’s also the money. Young is in the middle of a five-year, $215 million deal, signed in 2021. That contract ties his reputation directly to Atlanta’s ability to win. All-Star nods and deep playoff runs aren’t just nice for the resume, but they also shape his and the franchise’s legacy, Hall of Fame cases, and future extensions. In that sense, Beverley’s critique lands where it hurts most: Young’s greatness hasn’t yet translated to team success.

Still, Beverley’s callout felt more like theater than truth. This is a player who never made an All-Star team himself, lecturing someone who has been an All-Star starter and the offensive hub of an NBA franchise for seven seasons. That’s why Young’s clapbacks resonated, because fans know the gap between the roles. Beverley’s toughness made him beloved, but Young’s skill makes him essential. Meanwhile, Atlanta’s front office has quietly retooled the roster around him.

Kristaps Porziņģis joins as a floor-spacing big with rim protection, Luke Kennard provides shooting depth, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker brings perimeter defense. Add the internal growth of Jalen Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu, plus a second year with Dyson Daniels, and suddenly the Hawks have balance. It’s a squad designed to keep Young in his natural role as the offensive conductor. All of which makes this Beverley drama a double-edged sword.

On the one hand, it motivates. Young plays his best when there’s a chip on his shoulder. On the other hand, it sets up another round of scrutiny if Atlanta falls short again. If the Hawks miss the playoffs, every clip from that almost 12-minute rant will resurface. That’s why Shelby’s Instagram stories matter more than people think.

Beyond the arguments, beyond the stats and contracts, Young’s world starts with his family. The warm notes of “Happy Birthday Daddy!” and the soundtrack of Mariah Carey are a reminder of why he keeps fighting these battles, on and off the court. Beverley can poke and provoke, but the support at home is what steadies him.

And if Trae Young really does make it back to the All-Star game, maybe even the Conference Finals, it won’t just be about shutting up Pat Bev. It’ll be about proving that the love from his family and the fire from his critics are the two forces that keep him pushing toward greatness.