Trae Young says he will be better than Luka Doncic

Trae Young and Luka Doncic will always be connected whether they like it or not.

The Atlanta Hawks held the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft and took Doncic, but they traded him to Dallas for Young and a future protected first-round pick. Atlanta could have kept Doncic, but they preferred Young. That decision ensured the two will always be compared.

Doncic is off to a hot start — a historic start for a teenager — and is getting all the hype. Young knows how well Doncic is doing, but he’s not worried; he knows it’s a marathon, not a sprint, and he thinks he will be better over time.

“In my eyes, it’s not a question — it’s going to be me,” Young told ESPN’s ‘The Jump’ on Monday. “But that’s just the competitive nature in my blood, and I think that’s the no-brainer with me.”

Young should be maintaining that attitude. He’s only 20 and has plenty of time to develop. Plus, he’s off to a good start with 16.2 points and 7.3 assists per game. He needs to improve on his shooting percentages — 40.2 percent from the field and 29 percent on threes — but that should come as he ages and gets more reps.

Between Doncic and all the comparisons to Steph Curry, Young has heard plenty about his game. At least he’s maintaining confidence about his future.