Norman Dedicates Street to NBA All-Star Trae Young as His Family’s Foundation Funds New Athletic Center

Norman dedicates street to NBA all-star Trae Young as his family's foundation funds new athletic center (KOKH)

A street dedication was held in Norman in honor of former OU basketball standout and NBA all-star Trae Young Sunday. The street is right in front of the Young Family Athletic Center, which is slated to open soon.

While he’s doing great things in Atlanta for the Hawks, Young certainly doesn’t forget where he came from.

“Less than two percent of NBA players become all-stars. My question for you today is what percentage of those all-stars give back to their community like Trae Young?” said Jason Olsen, Director of Norman Parks and Recreation, who spoke at the ceremony.

Thanks to a $4 million dollar donation from the Trae Young family foundation, the city of Norman will soon be getting a multi-sport facility, better known as the Young Family Athletic Center.

“This is something that’s important, not only to me and my family, but I hope it’s important to this city, because the city means a lot to me and I try to represent it the best way I can,” said Young.

Several notable people were in attendance for the ceremony, including Young’s parents, the Atlanta Hawks basketball team, as well as the city’s mayor, Larry Heikkila, who said the athletic center will have a monumental impact.

“When we think of this amazing building behind us, you guys have really set apart something forever for us. It is a spectacular item that’s gonna come down, it’s something that nobody else has, and that’s what makes it wonderful to us, and it’s very much appreciated,” Heikkila said.

And just to show Young and his family how much the city appreciates them giving back to the city, they named the street in front of the center in his honor, which will now be known as Trae Young Drive.

“Having my own drive and my own street, this is something I never even thought I would have. Growing up, you had dreams of playing in the NBA and doing all these things, I don’t know if you necessarily think about having your own street. But having this, it’s an honor,” he said.

Olsen says the athletic center should be opening in mid January.