Trae Young, now with the Washington Wizards, continued to lean into his role as a New York Knicks antagonist by attempting to rip a Jalen Brunson jersey at Fanatics Fest on Saturday. The incident occurred at the Javits Center, where Young took the stage with a Jalen Brunson blue road jersey and tugged at it, stretching the fabric rather than ripping it before tossing it into the crowd.
Young, who previously played for the Atlanta Hawks, has maintained his status as a Knicks villain since the Hawks' first-round playoff victory over New York five years ago. He was reportedly booed by fans as he moved through the New York-hosted event.
This jersey incident was not Young's only gesture directed at the Knicks during his visit to New York. On Friday night, he posted a video to his Instagram story showing him in a car, watching highlights of his performance against the Knicks from the 2021 postseason. He captioned the clip, "When I’m in NYC this how I ride around."
Despite the Knicks ultimately winning a championship this year, ending their drought, Young's past playoff success against them remains a point of contention for New York fans. Young's tenure in Atlanta concluded in January when he was traded to the Wizards. He played only five games for Washington before being sidelined for the remainder of the season. He has since signed a four-year, $212 million contract to remain with the Wizards. The team has not reached the playoffs recently but is looking to improve its roster with players like Young, Anthony Davis, and top draft pick AJ Dybantsa.