Julius Randle (Image Credit: X @sny_knicks)
The Atlanta Haws- San Antonio Spurs game is set to tip off next, and Trae Young has everybody talking about him. His team is running 14-13 and standing in the seventh position in the Eastern Conference. With Young’s viral dice roll catching the wind, he got Julius Randle in absolute surprise after former Knicks’ Isaiah Hartenstein’s reaction.

During a recent media interaction, Randle was having a normal conversation until he found out something that has to do with his previous team. He was informed that Trae Young did a bold rolling dice celebration on the Knicks’ logo during a recent matchup at Madison Square Garden. He was surprised but did not appear angry or irritated, which many expected given the historical relationship between Young and the New York fanbase.

“Oh really? Dang that’s crazy,” Randle said. The former Knicks forward was seemingly unaware of Young’s stunt until reporters informed him about it during a press session.

Although, Young’s calculated gesture was meant to signify the Hawks’ advancement to the NBA Cup semifinals instead it was seen as his ‘villain’ image among Knicks supporters. The rivalry between Young and the Knicks fanbase has been simmering since the intense 2021 playoffs, where he faced relentless taunts and hostility from the crowd.

Young’s stunt was nothing new. It has been there for a long and came through during interviews when he admitted that embracing the antagonist role wasn’t inherently enjoyable. Instead, he found energy in the crowd’s reactions

What Led To Trae Young’s Viral Rolling Dice Celebration?

The Knicks found themselves on the receiving end of the recent drama. Although it has been there for quite some time, it has been getting traction lately. Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks delivered a stunning comeback to defeat the men in white and blue for 108-100. With this, they secured their place in the semifinals against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Trailing for much of the game, the Hawks turned the tide in the third quarter, outscoring the Knicks 34-18. And to add to that, Young scored 12 of his 22 points during this pivotal period. His rally included a clutch catch-and-shoot three-pointer that gave Atlanta their first lead at 68-66. The Knicks, who had maintained control with a 62-52 advantage early in the third, found themselves reeling.

The Hawks’ suffocating defense and controlled offensive rebounding turned the momentum squarely in Atlanta’s favor. As the game drew to a close, Young playfully rolled mock dice on the Knicks’ logo. It was a symbolic gesture, meaning the Hawks’ were going to Las Vegas for the semifinals. On the other hand, the Knicks would face an ultimate exit from the tournament.

For now, the Hawks are riding high on confidence, with Trae Young leading the charge out and about the scoring line.