Trae Young might be keeping quiet, but the industry isn’t letting Patrick Beverley’s shots slide. First, it was Kevin Durant, never one to bite his tongue, who came swinging to defend the Hawks star.. Durant clapped back online, brushing off Beverley’s take as delusional and instantly reigniting their long-running rivalry, putting the veteran guard right back under the spotlight.

What makes this feud even more intriguing is how it’s snowballing. Beverley has built a career on stirring up stars, from calling out Russell Westbrook to mocking Chris Paul, but rarely do we see multiple big names step in to defend the same player. And this time, after Durant’s jab, another voice from within the league’s brotherhood has joined the chorus, making the Beverly-Young beef more than just a one-on-one exchange.

After Kevin Durant recently pushed back on Patrick Beverley’s harsh critique of Trae Young, another notable voice has entered the fray, this time from someone who once shared the locker room with the Hawks star. Former All-Star guard Jeff Teague, now an NBA champion thanks to his run with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021, used his appearance on the Club 520 podcast to call out Beverley and defend Young in no uncertain terms.

“His arms can’t reach up there,” Teague said, making it clear that Beverley’s career role couldn’t be compared to Young’s star status. He doubled down with a striking analogy: “I’m a featherweight trying to fight Mike Tyson,” before stressing that Beverley couldn’t carry the same burden as a franchise scorer. “You put Pat Bev in Trae’s spot, they don’t win 40 games. It’s too much pressure.”

The former Hawk continued, stressing that placing Beverley in Young’s role would expose the limits of his impact. “You put Pat Bev in Trae’s spot, they don’t win 40 games. It’s too much pressure.” That assertion underscored the fundamental difference between being a defensive irritant and carrying the nightly burden of scoring, facilitating, and leading an offense through an 82-game grind.

He stressed that Beverley could never shoulder the same scoring and playmaking load, noting that role players simply aren’t built for the grind that comes with being a star. “Pat Bev ain’t guarding no 6’10 dudes, he ain’t got no double-teams coming at him,” Teague added, making it clear that Young’s challenges can’t be replicated by someone who’s never had to carry them. By drawing that line, Teague echoed Durant’s earlier defense, making it clear that more stars see Trae Young operating on a different level.

The spark for this back-and-forth came from Beverley himself, who used his Pat Bev Podcast platform to take direct aim at Young’s impact in Atlanta. Beverley argued that despite Young’s scoring numbers, he hasn’t proven capable of elevating the Hawks to real contention. He questioned Young’s leadership and efficiency, suggesting that his style of play often stalls team success rather than driving it.

With both an MVP and a champion now publicly backing him, Trae may not have clapped back himself, but the league is making sure his name is defended.

Trae Young breaks silence on lack of respect among NBA’s elite guards

While Trae Young stayed quiet as during Patrick Beverley’s latest round of criticism, he has been more candid when discussing his place among the NBA’s top guards. Appearing on the Club 520 Podcast, Young admitted he often feels overlooked despite his production. He suggested it comes down to personality, explaining that he’s not one to campaign for respect. “I’m not super loud… I’d rather let my game do the talking and let everybody else speak for me,” Young said.

The numbers reinforce his case. Averaging 24.2 points and a league-leading 11.6 assists in 2024–25, Young continues to stack All-Star appearances while carrying the Hawks’ offense. Yet Atlanta’s struggles finishing 40-42 and bowing out in the Play-In, have muted his spotlight on a national stage. That tension underscores why voices like Durant and Teague rushing to his defense matter: while critics question his ability to elevate a franchise.

Playing in a smaller market, his performances often don’t get the same national exposure as guards in New York, Los Angeles, or Golden State. Add in the perception created by heated rivalries and public criticism, like Beverley’s recent shots and Young’s reputation becomes as much about narrative as it is about numbers. For that reason, his insistence on letting his game do the talking stands as both a strength and a challenge in the spotlight-driven NBA.

As the new season approaches, the question is no longer whether Trae Young can produce at an elite level, the numbers have already proven that he can. Instead, it’s whether his play, combined with a strengthened Hawks roster, will finally shift the conversation in his favor. With superstars and champions now speaking up on his behalf, Young may not need to chase respect; the league is beginning to do it for him.