Oklahoma hired Trae Young as its new assistant GM

DrewFranklinKSR

On3 image — Jan 11, 2025; Athens, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks player Trae Young with his son Tydus watch the game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Oklahoma Sooners at Stegeman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Four-time NBA All-Star Trae Young averaged 27.4 points per game in his one-and-done season at Oklahoma in 2017-18. A former UK target who nearly became a Wildcat, Young was a Consensus All-American with the Sooners instead, also leading the NCAA in assists with 8.7 per game in his freshman season.

Jan 20, 2018; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Trae Young (11) looks on during the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports

Now, Young will help his alma mater in a new role, serving as the assistant GM of Oklahoma Basketball. Oklahoma announced the hiring of Young on Monday, along with a $1 million pledge from Young to support the Sooners.

“I’m excited to announce that I’m accepting a role with OU basketball in being an assistant GM, as well as making a million dollar donation, to help kick start this whole thing,” Young said. “So it’s exciting to be a part of this, and being from Norman and playing there, obviously it’s exciting times. And I’m looking forward to being in this new role.”

The future is now! BOOMER☝🏾@OU_MBBall pic.twitter.com/mEzhKDeaN9
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) March 31, 2025

Young, whose Atlanta Hawks are currently in seventh place in the East’s playoff push, followed Steph Curry‘s lead into ceremonial employment in college athletics. Curry was named assistant GM of Davidson, his alma mater, earlier this month.

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If Kentucky were to follow the trend, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Devin Booker would make excellent hires, among several others. Mark Pope could fill an entire fake office with fake jobs for UK’s NBA stars.

Otega Oweh is still Oklahoma’s boss

Though Trae Young will assist in Oklahoma’s business ventures from Atlanta, let’s not forget who owns the team: Otega Oweh. Oweh averaged 27.5 points against the Sooners in 2024-25 (.1 more points per game than Young’s average), including two unforgettable game-winners.

Let’s watch those again since we’re talking about Oklahoma, and we need positive Kentucky memories right now.

"Otega Oweh saves the day!"
– @tomleachKY
Listen to Tom Leach and Jack Givens call the final sequence of @KentuckyMBB's win at Oklahoma. pic.twitter.com/2HOSQ4zwSM
— UK Sports Network (@UKSportsNetwork) February 27, 2025