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Trae Young, the four-time NBA All-Star, is focused 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 this time every year when the NCAA Tournament returns, especially if you’ve played in it.
They call it March Madness for a reason. Loud crowds, tense atmospheres on the court, late-second heroics, David versus 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 during the first half of a Big 12 Basketball Championship first round matchup 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 first new point guard on the map, was one of the best players in the country despite the result. Of course, Young never intended to just play a March Madness game, but Rhode Island got the best of Oklahoma that day in 2018, and the first player to ever 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 important advice for all those embarking on their March Madness journeys, whether they are from a major program or have made “The Dance” as a conference champion.
“I think the most important thing I learned was just to understand that you may or may not get a shot at this,” he told Pakinomist while discussing his exciting partnership with Sling TV and its fun promotion for college basketball fans ahead of the NCAA tournament. “Going into my freshman year, I thought I’d get a couple of chances. As the season went on, I just got one.
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“So you never know how many shots you’re going to get to even have a chance to play in the tournament. Just to make sure you’re focused and locked into every part of this journey because you never know when you’re going to move on to the next one.”
For players, it can certainly be difficult to take a step back and appreciate the moment every hooper dreams of. Young understands that too, as he still remembers the emotions he felt when he took the court.
“I don’t know if nervous is necessarily the word, but I had so many emotions. It was probably in there, but I was anxious and ready to play,” he recalled. “But I remember everything from the bus ride, going to the bus and all the fans that were there, and that it was 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 2018 NCAA Photos via Getty Images 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 whole experience, even if it was just one game, I’ll never forget that whole experience and definitely being a part of March Madness.”
Young went on to score 28 points while dishing out seven assists with five rebounds. But Rhode Island took the first-round win in overtime, ending any chance the No. 10 Sooners could go on an underdog run.
But underdogs are what Young hasn’t stopped rooting for in the tournament since then, and that just might include his Sooners if they can make it in the SEC Tournament. Oklahoma, ranked 11th for the conference tournament, defeated the No. 14 South Carolina Gamecocks on Wednesday night to start off on the right foot.
“We’re getting hot at the right time and that’s all that matters. If we get a couple of wins here, then we’ll find our way to get more of a foot in the tournament, I’ll be really excited,” he said of his former team.
UNDERDOGS WIN WITH SLING TV
Speaking of the higher seeds in the tournament, Young’s partnership with Sling TV rewards college basketball fans with a promotion that mirrors the excitement of any 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 partnered with Sling TV to help deliver flexibility to college basketball fans ahead of March Madness. (Sling TV)
And from the 19th-22nd March, if any No. 12-16 seed advances to the Sweet 16 in either the men’s or women’s tournaments, eligible customers can claim their next 1-Day Pass for just one dollar.
“It’s super cool just to be able to be part of something [with Sling TV]and the fans are such a big part of doing something like this,” Young explained. “Being able to have more fans engaged in it and being even more ready to watch these games, sit on their couches and watch these games. It’s super cool to be a part of this with Sling TV and to root for the underdogs.”
If the underdog reaches the Sweet 16, fans will be able to redeem their 1-day passes at any time through the championship game, which will take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on April 6.
