Stormin in Norman
Fansided

Trey Young making headlines despite suspended NBA season

By Chip Rouse

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 17: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks in action against Trey Burke #23 of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on October 17, 2018 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Hawks 126-107. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 17: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks in action against Trey Burke #23 of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on October 17, 2018 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Hawks 126-107. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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The suspension of the 2020 NBA season because of the COVID-19 pandemic is now in its fifth week, but former Oklahoma basketball star Trey Young is still making headlines, if only in a virtual way.

Young was one of 16 NBA players who took part in an NBA 2K Tournament, and he has been established as the favorite in another virtual event, the ESPN NBA H-O-R-S-E Challenge that tips off Sunday evening.

The former OU star, now in his second season with the NBA Atlanta Hawks, is participating in both events from his home in Norman, Oklahoma, where, like millions of Americans, he is practicing social distancing and stay-at-home directives.

The inaugural NBA 2K Tournament featured a four-round tournament with 16 different NBA players taking on each other using the popular video game of the same name as the medium.

Young defeated Harrison Barnes of the Sacramento Kings in the first round, but lost to Deandre Ayton of the Phoenix Suns in the second round. The first and second rounds were single-elimination formats. The semifinals and final were best two of three.

The NBA 2K Tournament final featured Ayton against his Suns teammate Devin Booker, with Booker winning it all and receiving $100,000, which was donated in his name to support coronavirus relief efforts.

Sunday night on ESPN, Young will begin a new challenge, applying his shooting skills in a game of H-O-R-S-E against eight current and former NBA and WNBA players. Each player will shoot on his or her home basket. The opening round will air on ESPN at 6 p.m. CT on Sunday. The semifinals and championship will be broadcast on April 16 at 8 p.m. on ESPN.

The participants in the H-O-R-S-E Challenge are Young, Paul Pierce, Tamika Catchings, Chris Paul, Mike Conley, Zach LaVine, Allie Quigley and Chauncy Billups. Young will be matched against Billups in Sunday’s quarterfinals.

As in the NBA 2K Tournament, proceeds from the H-O-R-S-E Challenge will be donated to help in the fight against COVID-19.

When NBA games were suspended in mid-March, Young stood tied for third in the league in scoring, averaging 29.6 points and 9.3 assists. Eleven times this season, Young has scored 41 or more points, and he has scored at least 30 points in 31 of 60 games.

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