Akwasi Osei-tutu

Professional Career

Atlanta Hawks (2018-present)

On June 21, 2018, Young was selected by the Dallas Mavericks, with the fifth overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft, however Young was traded to the Atlanta Hawks along with a protected future first-round pick in exchange for the rights to the 3rd overall pick Luka Dončić, as a strategic effort to rebuild the Hawks. Young officially signed his rookie contract, on July 1, 2018 , which will guarantee him a total of $15, 167,700 over his first three seasons in the NBA.

October 2018

Young Played his first ever NBA game against the New York Knicks on October 17th, 2018, finishing with 14 points 5 assists and 6 rebounds on %36 shooting from the field. Just three games later, Young went on to score his career high of 35 points with 11 assists and 2 rebounds against the Cleveland Cavaliers. This performance was the best line by a first-year player since Stephen Curry in 2010. For the month, Young finished with the averages of 19.1 points 6.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists shooting %35 from the three-point line and %43 from the field.

November-December 2018

November and December were struggling times for Young as they were his two lowest performance months but he still managed to record his career high in assist On November 19, 2018, recording 17 assists with 25 points and three rebounds in a 119–127 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. During this stretch Young and the Atlanta Hawks managed to lose 10 straight games in a row which is the longest stretch Young has gone without winning a game in his career. Young ended November averaging 14.0 points per game 8.1 assists per game and 3.1 rebounds per game on %20 shooting from the three-point line and %36 shooting from the field, and finished December averaging 15.8 points per game 7.0 assists per game 2.7 rebounds game on %35 shooting from the three-point line and %43.1 shooting from the field. His performance in the month in November allowed him to win the NBA Rookie of the Month Award.

Janaury 2019

The turn into the new year propelled Young to turn into the player the Atlanta Hawks expected he'll be when they acquired him from the Dallas Mavericks. For the month, Young averaged 18.7 points 7.2 assists 3.7 rebounds on %33.7 shooting from the three-point line and %44.4 from the field. Young solidified himself as one of the NBA's best young players by matching up with some of the NBA'S best players and outperforming them. Young matched up against Russell Westbrook and Ben Simmonsand in each game outplayed both of them while leading his team to victory. On January 11, 2019, Young scored 18 points along with 5 assists and 4 rebounds in a 123-121 win against the Philadelphia 76ers and Ben Simmons. He then went on,4 days later to score 24 points with 11 assists and 6 rebounds in a blowout 142-126 win against Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Young's performance was recognized around the NBA and earned him his second NBA Rookie of the Month award, as he won the award for the month of January alongside Luka Doncic who won it in the west.

February-present 2019

The month of February was Young's best month so far in his young NBA career. Young managed to up each and every single one of his stats for the month of February. Young averaged an astonishing 23.3 points per game 9.3 assists per game 4.3 rebounds per game on a staggering %43 from the three-point line and %41.0 from the field. Young's performance in February allowed him to win another NBA Rookie of the month award as he won this award for a 3rd time in February. Young was also able to compete in multiple events at the 2019NBA All-Star Weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina. Young was selected to compete in the 2019 NBA All-Star Weekend Rising Stars Challenge and the NBA All-Star Weekend Skills Challenge. During the Rising Star's challenge Young was able to shine and showcase his skills. Although he did not win the game's MVP award Young's presences was felt. Young put up 25 points 10 assists and 7 rebounds on %50 from the three-point line and %47.4 from the field in only 24 minutes. During the skills competition, Young went up against Jayson Tatum in the final round. Young using his speed, quickness, and elite shooting and passing ability pulled out to an early lead but when it came down to the final shot, Young to a half-court heave. The All-star weekend boasted Young's confidence as he continued to tear up the NBA. On February 27, 2019, Young put up a new season-high 36 points 10 assists, and 8 rebounds in a 131–123 overtime win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. He then broke his season-high two days later on March 1, putting up a career-high 49 points alongside 16 assists and 8 rebounds in a high-scoring 168–161 quadruple overtime loss to the Chicago Bulls. Later that week Young went on to record his first ever triple-double against the Brooklyn Nets putting up 23 points 11 assists and 10 rebounds in a 114-112 loss. On March 31, 2019, Young recorded his first ever game-winner and had 12 points and 16 assists against the #1 seeded Milwaukee Bucks. March was another strong performance for Young as he put up 23.4 points per game 9.3 assists per game and 4.9 rebounds per game on %33.7 from the three-point line and %43.6 from the field earning him his fourth NBA Rookie of the Month award.