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Ahead of the 2021-22 NBA season, Trae Young agreed to a five-year, $207 million contract extension with the Atlanta Hawks that will keep him in A-Town until 2026. It doesn’t get much better than that for a 23-year-old superstar.

Or so he thought.

This week, Young was voted to the All-NBA Third Team for the first time in his short career. That’s fantastic news in and of itself, but the All-NBA selection also allows Young to tack on more than $35 million to his current contract. The Hawks point guard is now set to become one of the highest-paid players in the NBA, and he has 100 strangers to thank.

Trae Young is an All-NBA player for the first time

Trae Young smiles during a game against the Cavaliers.
Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks reacts during a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers | Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

After a season in which Young scored 28.4 points and dished out a career-high 9.7 assists per game, the Hawks point guard was voted an All-NBA player for the first time in his career. Young was named to the All-NBA Third Team this week following the best and most efficient season of his four-year stint with the Hawks.

In 2021-22, Young notched career-highs in shooting percentage (46%), three-point shooting percentage (38.2%), and free-throw percentage (90.4%). He also led Atlanta in win shares (10.0), BPM (5.2), and VORP (4.8). The stellar season was enough to join Chris Paul, LeBron James, Pascal Siakam, and Karl Anthony-Towns on the Third Team.

Here’s how the rest of the All-NBA teams shook out:

First Team

  • Devin Booker
  • Luka Doncic
  • Jayson Tatum
  • Giannis Antetokounmpo
  • Nikola Jokic

Second Team

  • Ja Morant
  • Stephen Curry
  • Kevin Durant
  • DeMar DeRozan
  • Joel Embiid

Third Team

  • Chris Paul
  • Trae Young
  • LeBron James
  • Pascal Siakam
  • Karl Anthony-Towns

Young can thank 100 strangers for his $35 million raise

Cracking the All-NBA team doesn’t just give you an impressive bullet point on your career resume. It also allows you to earn more money on future contracts. Because a global panel of 100 media members gave Young enough votes to earn third-team honors, his upcoming five-year contract will increase by a massive $35.4 million.

Here’s how the new contract compares to the old in terms of yearly salary:

SeasonOriginal salaryNew Salary
2022-23$30.5 million$36.6 million
2023-24$32.94 million$39.53 million
2024-25$35.38 million$42.46 million
2025-26$37.82 million$45.38 million
2026-27$40.26 million$48.31 million

Young will now earn nearly $50 million in 2025-26 thanks to his new All-NBA designation. Talk about a life-changing raise.

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Staff Writer

Jack Dougherty

Writing professionally since 2015, Jack Dougherty spent six years as a sportswriter with publications such as GoPSUSports.com, the Centre Daily Times, and the Associated Press before joining Sportscasting in 2020. He covers the NBA, the NFL, and the world of golf extensively and has added expertise on any team located in or around his hometown of Philadelphia. Yes, that includes the Philadelphia Eagles, the Philadelphia 76ers, and Philadelphia Phillies.

When Jack isn’t writing about sports, he’s watching them or playing them as he regularly heads to the gym for some pickup basketball or the golf course to hit the links. He’s also an avid participant in the sports betting scene who worked at a casino sportsbook for a year and learned the ins and outs of the industry before bringing his expertise to Sportscasting with one excellent gambling recommendation after another.