Overview
- Trae Young tried to tear a Jalen Brunson New York Knicks jersey during a WWE‑style entrance at Fanatics Fest and ultimately tossed the intact shirt into the crowd.
- Video and eyewitness accounts showed the attempt did not succeed and the moment drew audible boos from the Javits Center floor and widespread online derision.
- Young had earlier posted an Instagram Story of himself watching highlights of his 2021 postseason games against the Knicks, a sequence that helped fuel the weekend reaction.
- Hours after the stunt, Young posted on X that he was “just trolling sometimes” and added a conciliatory note about being happy for some Knicks players.
- The episode revives a rivalry that began in the 2021 playoffs and creates a PR headache for Washington as the Wizards, who signed Young to a multiyear extension, prepare for the 2026–27 season with Anthony Davis and rookie A.J. Dybantsa.