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Four-time NBA All-Star Trae Young is focused on getting acclimated to his new Washington Wizards teammates and finishing the 2025-26 NBA season strong.
But it’s hard to ignore the feelings that come around this time every year when the NCAA tournament returns, especially if you played in it.
They call it March Madness for a reason. Raucous crowds, tense on-court atmospheres, late-second heroics, David versus Goliath moments – you name it, this tournament is what players and fans look forward to every year.
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Oklahoma Sooners guard Trae Young in the first half of a first round Big 12 basketball championship game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Oklahoma State Cowboys on March 7, 2018 at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. (Scott Winters/Sportswire Icon)
For Young, it was a unique time with the Oklahoma Sooners in 2018, a season that put the freshman point guard on the map and was one of the best players in the country despite the outcome. Of course, Young never intended to play a single March Madness game, but Rhode Island got the better of Oklahoma that day in 2018, and became 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 one key piece of advice for anyone about to embark on their March Madness journey, whether they’re from a major program or made “The Dance” as a conference champion.
“I think the main thing I learned was understanding that you may or may not get another chance,” he told PK Press Club while discussing his exciting partnership with Sling TV and its fun promotion for college basketball fans ahead of the NCAA Tournament. “At the start of my freshman year, I thought I was going to get a few chances. The way the season went, I just got this one.
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“So you never know how many shots you’re going to get to be able to make the tournament. Just to make sure that you’re focused and focused on each step of this journey because you never know when you need to move on to the next one.”
For gamers, it can certainly be difficult to step back and appreciate the moment that every gamer dreams of. Young understands this too, because he still remembers the emotions he felt when he stepped onto the field.
“I don’t know if nervous is necessarily the word, but I had so many emotions. It was probably there, but I was anxious and ready to play,” he recalled. “But I remember everything, the bus ride, the walk to the bus and all the fans that were there, and being very important to 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 2018 NCAA Photos via Getty Images men’s basketball tournament held at PPG Paints Arena on March 15, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Ben Salomon/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
“Everything about that whole experience, even if it was just one game, I’ll never forget that whole experience and being a part of March Madness, that’s for sure.”
Young went on to score 28 points, while dishing out seven assists and five rebounds. But Rhode Island won in the first round in overtime, ending any chance for the No. 10 Sooners to embark on an underdog race.
But the underdogs are the ones Young has consistently supported in the tournament since then, and that could well include his Sooners if they can make the SEC tournament. Oklahoma, seeded 11th for the conference tournament, beat the No. 14 South Carolina Gamecocks on Wednesday night to get off to a fresh start.
“We’re warming up at the right time and that’s all that matters. If we get some wins here, find a way to have more weight in the tournament, I’ll be really excited,” he said of his former team.
THE UNDERDOGS WIN WITH SLING TV
Speaking of those highest seeds in the tournament, Young’s partnership with Sling TV rewards college basketball fans with a promotion that captures the excitement of every unexpected March Madness upset.
Young and Sling TV invited fans to explore a flexible viewing experience with new 1, 3 and 7 Day Pass subscriptions to watch March Madness games live.
Trae Young has teamed up with Sling TV to provide flexibility for college basketball fans ahead of March Madness. (Fronde TV)
And, from March 19-22, if a No. 12-16 seed advances to the Sweet 16 in the men’s or women’s tournaments, eligible customers can claim their next 1-Day Pass for just one dollar.
“It’s super cool to be able to be part of something [with Sling TV]and the fans play such a big role in making something like this happen,” Young explained. “To be able to have more fans engaged and be even more ready to watch these games, sitting on their couch and watching these games. It’s super cool to be a part of this with Sling TV and supporting the underdogs.”
If this underdog makes it to 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.
