Hustle Training

The Trae Young Move

In basketball, every player will face off with a defender. Whether it’s a zone defense or man-to-man coverage, a defender will attempt to block your shot — and every move. Professional basketball player Trae Young adopted his own move to evade defenders. The “Trae Young Move” serves to lead a defender in the wrong direction. Young, a point guard, says the move can help smaller guards get shots off quickly and create space. To do so, he focuses primarily on the defender, not his dribble. “I automatically know that he’s not going to let me go that way,” Young says. “I take one or two hard dribbles to make it seem like I’m about to go that way. As soon as he bites, I wrap it around my back.” Young sees his move imitated by fans through social media and appreciates watching the Trae Young Move in action. He says there haven’t been many mistakes. THE DRILL Practicing the Trae Young Move can help athletes buy more time to set up a perfect shot. To perform the move: Begin by dribbling up to a defender, then plant your left foot firmly on the ground. Extend your right foot the opposite direction, leading the left foot closer. When both feet hit the ground, dribble one more time. Pick up the dribble and drive the ball, moving your feet and body the other direction. While moving your body, use your arms to wrap the ball around your back. The ball should end up in your left hand. Once the defender goes the other way, get in a shooting stance. Square up your body to the basketball hoop and release your shot. Young says the biggest key when executing this move is not to commit a traveling violation. According to Trae, “Being a smaller guard, being a point guard I had to be able to get my shot up quick and create space with less dribbles. What motivated the move I saw Steph do it in a one-on-one little video and I never seen it done in the game. So me being as confident as I am and just working on my craft, I was doing in a workout and I wanted to be the first one to do it in the game. I just really focus on two defenders for to me a certain way. I automatically know that he's not just gonna let me go that way so I take one of two hard dribbles to make it seem like I'm about to go that way and as soon as he bites, I drive. I really appreciate it everybody who I saw around the world doing the Trae Young move. I really didn't see too many mistakes I mean some people here and there would travel a little bit but that's that's natural. Now it's just the confidence to see them doing it in the game.”