Knicks Won't Face Longtime Nemesis Trae Young in Wizards Clash

Trae Young ruled out with quad contusion and lower-back inflammation as Wizards tank for draft position

Mar. 22, 2026 at 1:50am

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Trae Young, who was recently traded from the Hawks to the Wizards, will not play against the Knicks on Sunday due to a quad contusion and lower-back inflammation. The Wizards are currently tanking for a better draft position, and need to finish in the NBA's bottom four to guarantee they don't give up their top eight protected pick to the Knicks. Young, who has had a contentious history with the Knicks, only played one game against New York this season before the trade.

Why it matters

Trae Young has been a longtime nemesis of the Knicks, dating back to the 2021 playoffs when his Hawks defeated the Knicks. His absence from Sunday's game removes a key storyline and on-court rivalry between the two teams. Additionally, the Wizards' tanking efforts could have significant implications for the Knicks' future draft position.

The details

Trae Young, who was acquired by the Wizards in a January trade from the Hawks, will not play against the Knicks on Sunday due to a quad contusion and lower-back inflammation. The Wizards are currently in tank mode, needing to finish in the NBA's bottom four to keep their top eight protected pick from conveying to the Knicks. Young has only played five games with the Wizards since the trade, and the team is 0-5 when he has played. The Knicks will avoid facing their longtime nemesis, who has had a contentious history with the team dating back to the 2021 playoffs.

  • Trae Young was acquired by the Wizards in a January 2026 trade from the Hawks.
  • Young has only played five games with the Wizards since the trade.

The players

Trae Young

A point guard who was recently traded from the Hawks to the Wizards, and has had a contentious history with the Knicks dating back to the 2021 playoffs.

Knicks

The New York Knicks, who will not face their longtime rival Trae Young in Sunday's game against the Wizards.

Wizards

The Washington Wizards, who are currently tanking for a better draft position and need to finish in the NBA's bottom four to keep their top eight protected pick from conveying to the Knicks.

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What’s next

If the Wizards' pick does not convey to the Knicks this season, it becomes two second-round picks for New York.

The takeaway

The Knicks will avoid facing their longtime rival Trae Young, who has been a thorn in their side since the 2021 playoffs. However, the Wizards' tanking efforts could still have significant implications for the Knicks' future draft position, making this an important storyline to follow.