The iconic Madison Square Garden is widely known as the Mecca of Basketball. It is often speculated how stars have extra motivation to put on a show in NYC. However, the star who has become unanimously despised for his insane performances in New York over the last few years is Trae Young. While the rivalry has led to some uncouth moments from the fans’ side, the performances from Young have been sublime. Even though comparisons to Stephen Curry are obvious, it was a former New York star that inspired IceTrae. The 24-year-old was given “utmost respect” by the former Knicks guard recently.

The Atlanta Hawks superstar has become a perpetual thorn in New York’s side over the past few years. It has led to some memorable battles between the two teams with emotions running high. However, not everyone associated with the Knicks is a hater of Young.

Trae Young has earned the respect of a former Knicks star

While there were questions regarding Young’s height and lack of explosiveness, it is safe to say that the former Oklahoma Sooners star has cemented himself among the league’s upper echelon. With his limitless range and innate vision, Trae has become one of the best point guards in the NBA.

However, the most awed-over aspect of Young’s game is his ball-handling ability. And who better than the original Crossover, Jamal Crawford, to use as inspiration? Their slithery handles are extremely similar and both are incredibly prone to scoring outbursts.

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While Young forges his legacy, Crawford’s legacy among the league’s greatest ball handlers is solidified. With the bond the two share, it was perhaps unsurprising, if not refreshing, to see the two interact on social media. Young shares the same message on Twitter every day in order to stay motivated.

After Young tweeted Jamal’s famous message, “Another Day, Another Opportunity” Crawford immediately shared the post on his IG story. A pioneer of the game, Jamal is constantly helping out the next generation and asked Trae to carry that legacy forward. Captioning his story, Crawford wrote, “Utmost respect ICE…keep uplifting the next one.” 

How did Trae Young become the villain of New York?

The story is a part of New York lore by now. After a comeback season from the Knicks in 2021, they faced off against a young Atlanta team. The New York faithful, as rowdy as ever, were shouting obscenities at the Hawks, and in particular, Trae Young. But Young wasn’t deterred. Delivering a masterful performance, Trae finished off the Knicks in a gentleman sweep. But the series was anything but gentlemanly.

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Young was exquisite in the series, dominating offensively and shutting off the Knicks’ miraculous season, becoming New York’s no. 1 villain. With trade rumors linking the two, perhaps the two sides might finally reach some peace.

What are your thoughts on Crawford’s message for Trae? Let us know in the comments.