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Four-time NBA All-Star Trae Young is focused on getting acclimated with his new Washington Wizards teammates and finishing the 2025-26 NBA season strong.
But it’s hard to ignore the feelings that come up around this time every year when the NCAA Tournament returns, especially if you’ve played in it.
They call it March Madness for a reason. Raucous crowds, tense court atmospheres, late-second heroics, David vs. Goliath moments – you name it, this tournament is what players and fans alike look forward to every year.
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Oklahoma Sooners guard Trae Young in the first half of a first-round matchup in the Big 12 Basketball Championship between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Oklahoma State Cowboys on March 7, 2018 at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, MO. (Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire)
For Young, it was a unique moment with the Oklahoma Sooners in 2018, a season that put the rookie point guard on the map as one of the best players in the country despite the outcome. Of course, Young never intended to play in just one March Madness game, but Rhode Island got the better of Oklahoma that day in 2018, and the first player to lead the NCAA in points and assists in a single season, later declared for the NBA Draft.
So, as he looks ahead to this year’s tournament, Young has some key advice for anyone about to embark on their journeys to March Madness, whether they’re from a big-time program or have made it to “The Dance” as conference champions.
“I think the main thing I learned was understanding that you may or may not get another chance to do this,” he told Pak Gazette while talking about his exciting partnership with Sling TV and its fun promotion for college basketball fans ahead of the NCAA Tournament. “Coming into my freshman year, I thought I was going to have a couple of chances. The way the season went, I only had one.
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“So you never know how many shots you’re going to take to even have a chance to play in the tournament. Just to make sure you’re focused and focused on every part of this journey, because you never know when you have to move on to the next one.”
For gamers, it can certainly be difficult to step back and appreciate the moment every gamer dreams of. Young understands it too, as he still remembers the emotions he felt when he walked onto the court.
“I don’t know if nervous is necessarily the word, but I had a lot of emotions. It was probably there, but I was eager and ready to play,” he recalled. “But I remember everything from the bus ride, walking to the bus and all the fans that were there, and it being such a big thing for the university.
Trae Young of the Oklahoma Sooners drives to the basket against Fatts Russell #2 of the Rhode Island Rams in the second half during the first round of the Photos via Getty Images 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament held at PPG Paints Arena on March 15, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Ben Solomon/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
“Everything about that experience, even if it was just one game, I’ll never forget that whole experience and certainly being a part of March Madness.”
Young scored 28 points and dished out seven assists with five rebounds. But Rhode Island took the first-round victory in overtime, ending any chance the No. 10 Sooners could have a losing streak.
But the underdogs are who Young hasn’t stopped rooting for in the tournament since, and that could include his Sooners if they can compete in the SEC Tournament. Oklahoma, ranked No. 11 in the conference tournament, defeated the No. 14 South Carolina Gamecocks on Wednesday night to get off on the right foot.
“We’re warming up at the right time and that’s the only thing that matters. If we get a couple of wins here, find a way to have more of a presence in the tournament, I’ll be very excited,” he said of his former team.
THE UNFAVORED WIN WITH SLING TV
Speaking of tournament favorites, Young’s partnership with Sling TV is rewarding college basketball fans with a promotion that reflects the excitement of every unexpected upset in March Madness.
Young and Sling TV have invited fans to explore a flexible viewing experience with newly launched 1-, 3-, and 7-day pass subscriptions to watch March Madness games live.
Trae Young has partnered with Sling TV to help provide flexibility to college basketball fans ahead of March Madness. (SlingTV)
And, from March 19-22, if any No. 12-16 seed advances to the Sweet 16 in the men’s or women’s tournament, eligible customers can claim their next 1-Day Pass for just one dollar.
“It’s great to be a part of something. [with Sling TV]”And the fans are a very important part of doing something like this,” Young explained. “To be able to have more fans involved and be even more ready to watch these games, sitting on their couches and watching these games.” “It’s great to be a part of this with Sling TV and support the underdogs.”
If that loser reaches the Sweet 16, fans will be able to redeem their 1-day pass at any time during the championship game, which will take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on April 6.
