Trae Young expresses ‘love and respect’ for fired Nate McMillan

ATLANTA (AP)— Trae Young says he has “nothing but love and respect” for formerAtlanta Hawks coach Nate McMillan and expects to have no input inthe hiring of McMillan’s replacement.

Young spokewith reporters on Friday for the first time sinceMcMillan wasfired on Tuesdaywith the Hawks in eighth place in the EasternConference. Young was not available following Wednesday’s practiceand was excused from Thursday’s practice for personal reasons.

Young ispreparing for his third full-time coach in five seasons. Asked ifhe is worried another change impacts the perception of his abilityto maintain long relationships with coaches, Young said “People aregoing to say what they’ve got to say.

“A lot ofplayers have played for a lot of coaches. I don’t look at it likethat. I’m not looking at the next coach who comes in here. I’mtrying to win a championship, whatever it is, I’m just trying towin.”

Young, atwo-time All-Star, is Atlanta’s on-court team leader as thestarting point guard while also ranking as the team’s top scorerwith 26.7 points per game. He dismissed speculation he had a rockyrelationship with McMillan.

“There’s alot of moments that people really don’t understand that me and himhave had and that’s OK,” Young said after Friday morning’spractice. “It will get brought up eventually. I know I don’t telleverybody everything. I kind of let y’all make up rumors aboutcertain things about how I am and how my relationship is withcertain people. I just play basketball.”

Young said hehas talked with McMillan since the firing and added “It’s not thelast time he and I are going to talk.”

Hawks generalmanager Landry Fields on Wednesday said speculation that McMillanwas hampered by conflicts with Young were unfair to Young. Fieldssaid McMillan’s relationship with Young was not a factor in hisdecision to make a coaching change.

Fields saidhe already has launched his search for McMillan’s full-timereplacement and saidformer Utah coach Quin Snyder is acandidate.

Young said “Idon’t care to have any input” in the coaching search.

“I trustthose guys up top,” he said. “Since I’ve been here I’ve always saidthat. Nothing has changed for me.”

Fields saidhe believed it was time for a new voice on the Hawks bench and said“there was slippage” as the team lost four of six games before theAll-Star break.

Asked if hebelieves it was time for a new voice, Young said “That’s not up tome.”

“I don’tknow. I think that’s part of it. I think sometimes it’s not alwaysgoing to be easy. Some conversations are not going to go great.That’s just part of it. Not every situation is easy and nice.”

Youngparticipated in Friday’s practice and is expected to start inFriday night’s game against Cleveland as the Hawks (29-30) hope fora late-season surge under interim coach Joe Prunty.