Thaddeus Young

Thaddeus Charles Young Sr. was born on June 21st, 1988 in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Lula Hall and Felton Young. Raised in a family of keen basketball enthusiasts, his father had played the sport for Jacksonville University and later got selected by the Buffalo Braves in the 1978 NBA draft. When Young was in fourth grade, his family relocated to Memphis, Tennessee.

His interest in basketball sparked early, and Young started playing varsity basketball in the eighth grade. He attended Mitchell High School, where his impressive performance led him to top the ranks of high school players. He was a versatile athlete who was awarded a place on the all-state team three times. He was also named TSSAA Class AA “Mr. Basketball” in 2005 and the 2006 Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year. He also earned a place on the McDonald’s High School All-American Team.

In his senior year, Young had an average of 26.9 points, 13.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 4.3 steals, and 3.6 blocks per game. Young was also an apt cross country runner. Academically, Young was an impressive student and graduated with a 4.3 GPA. By 2006, he emerged as one of the most coveted recruits of the freshman class.

The youngest member of Georgia Tech’s 2006 freshman class, Young finished his debut season with 14.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists averages. On June 28, 2007, Young was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers, securing the 12th overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft.

Over time, Young’s involvement in the team increased, and he became a vital team member with an average of 8.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 21 minutes per game during 2007–08. In February 2009, Young was selected to play in the 2009 Rookie Challenge as a member of the Sophomore team.

Throughout his time with the 76ers, Young continued to improve, hitting several career highs. Love for the game saw him making a game-winning shot with 2 seconds to seal game 3 of the 2009 opening round playoff series against the Orlando Magic and took Philadelphia to a 2-1 lead.

In 2014, he set a career record with 29 field goal attempts, securing 30 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists, and 7 steals in a match against the Dallas Mavericks. That season, Young touched new career highs in points, steals, assists, three-pointers made, and games started, finishing third in the league in steals.

Young’s career saw several trades, including to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Brooklyn Nets, and the Indiana Pacers between 2014 and 2016. He continued to be a prominent player, achieving season-high scores, including a stunning 27 points in a single game against the Philadelphia 76ers in 2019.

In 2019, Young signed as a free agent with the Chicago Bulls, where he took some time to adjust but ultimately showed a stronger inside play with good shooting, defense, and all-around abilities during his second season.

A year later, he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs along with Al-Farouq Aminu and several draft picks in exchange for DeMar DeRozan. In 2022, Young, Drew Eubanks, and a 2022 second-round selection were traded to the Toronto Raptors for Goran Dragić and a 2022 first-round draft pick. On June 30, Young signed a two-year contract extension with the Raptors worth $16 million.

In 2024, he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets but was waived the same day. Shortly after, On February 20, 2024, Young was signed by the Phoenix Suns. Currently, Thaddeus Young is an integral part of the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Off the court, Young is a family man, married to Shekinah Beckett; they have two sons, Thaddeus Jr., and Taylor. In addition to his commitment to the sport, Thaddeus Young also devotes his time and resources to the betterment of his community. He founded the Young for Youth foundation in May 2011, aimed at supporting at-risk youth and young families.

Young faced a personal tragedy when his mother, Lula Hall, passed away after an 18-month battle with breast cancer in November 2014. Despite the hardship, Young continues to bring his A-game to the field and contribute positively to his community off the court. His passion, resilience, and perseverance make him a role model for aspiring young athletes around the world.