Trae Young shares March Madness advice after one-and-done experience
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Four-time NBA All-Star Trae Young is focusing on getting used to his new Washington Wizards teammates and finishing the 2025-26 NBA season strong.
But it’s hard to ignore the emotions that arise every year around this time when the NCAA Tournament returns, especially if you’ve played in the tournament.
They call it March Madness for a reason. Noisy crowds, tense atmospheres on the field, late-second heroics, David and Goliath moments; You name it, this is the tournament that players and fans alike look forward to every year.
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The Oklahoma Sooners guard the Oklahoma Sooners during the first half of the Big 12 Basketball Championship first round game between the Oklahoma Sooners and Oklahoma State Cowboys at Sprint Center on March 7, 2018 in Kansas City, MO. (Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire)
For Young, it was a one-off moment with the Oklahoma Sooners in 2018; It was a season that put the freshman point guard on the map as one of the best players in the country, despite the outcome. Of course, Young never intended to play just one March Madness game, but Rhode Island had Oklahoma’s best performance that day in 2018, becoming the first player to lead the NCAA in points and assists in a single season, and was later announced for the NBA Draft.
As we look forward to this year’s tournament, Young has some important advice for anyone about to embark on their March Madness journey, whether it’s from a major program or has “The Dance” picked as conference champions.
“I think the biggest thing I’ve learned is to understand if you can get another shot at this,” he told Fox News, discussing his exciting partnership with Sling TV and entertaining promotions for college basketball fans ahead of the NCAA Tournament. “Coming into my freshman year, I thought I would get a few chances. The way the season went, I only got one chance.
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“So you never know how many shots you’re going to take to have a chance to play in the tournament. Just making sure you focus and stay focused on each phase of this journey because you never know when you’re going to have to move on to the next one.”
It can certainly be difficult for players to step back and enjoy the moment that all basketball players dream of. Young understands this, too, as he still remembers the emotions he felt when he walked onto the field.
“I don’t know if nerves is the exact word, but I had a lot of emotion. It was probably there, but I was anxious and ready to play,” he recalled. “But I remember everything from the bus ride, walking to the bus, all the fans being there and how important it was to the university.
Trae Young of the Oklahoma Sooners drives to the basket against #2 Fatts Russell 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 at PPG Paints Arena on March 15, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Ben Solomon/NCAA photos via Getty Images)
“Everything about this entire experience, even just one game, I will definitely never forget this entire experience and being a part of March Madness.”
While Young scored 28 points, he had 5 rebounds and 7 assists. But Rhode Island earned a first-round victory in overtime, eliminating any chance the No. 10 Sooners had of continuing a poor run.
But the underdogs are the ones Young hasn’t stopped rooting for in the tournament since, and that could include the Sooners if they can make a run in the SEC Tournament. Oklahoma, seeded 11th in the conference tournament, started the game off on the right foot by defeating the 14-seed South Carolina Gamecocks on Wednesday night.
“We’re warming up at the right time and that’s all that matters. If we get a few wins here, find a way to get further into the tournament, I’ll be really excited,” he said of his former team.
The underdogs won with Sling TV
Speaking of high seedings in the tournament, Young’s partnership with Sling TV rewards college basketball fans with a promotion that captures the excitement of every unexpected upset in March Madness.
Young and Sling TV invited fans to discover 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 for college basketball fans ahead of March Madness. (Sapan TV)
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And from March 19-22, if any of the 12-16 seeds in the men’s or women’s tournaments advance to the Sweet 16, eligible customers can purchase their next 1-Day Ticket for just one dollar.
“It’s nice to be a part of something [with Sling TV]Young explained: “To get more fans to get involved and be even more ready to watch these games, sit on their couches and watch these games. It’s great to be a part of that with Sling TV and support the underdogs.”
If the underdog makes the Sweet 16, fans will be able to use their 1-Day Tickets anytime for the championship game on April 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
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