Since the second Luka Doncic and Trae Young were traded for each other on draft night, they became forever linked.

On that fateful June night in 2018, the Mavericks traded the fifth overall pick and their 2019 first-round selection to move up two spots and nab Doncic. Both the Mavericks and Hawks believed they were getting their franchise cornerstone -- Dallas got its successor to Dirk Nowitzki, and Atlanta got its version of Steph Curry.

After all, Hawks general manager Travis Schlenk was a longtime assistant GM for Golden State.

While Doncic beat out Young for Rookie of the Year last season, the two have showed that there is more than one way to be successful as a point guard in the NBA.

In the midst of their second seasons in the NBA, both Doncic and Young are proving their respective franchises right with their play on the court. Young, averaging 28.2 points and 8.3 assists, is leading an Atlanta team marred by injuries and a 25-game suspension to John Collins, who had quite the rookie year himself last season.

Trae Young, Luka Doncic and LeBron James are the only three players in the NBA with 500+ points and 150+ assists this season. pic.twitter.com/x7c4zm09VT — Kevin Keneely (@KevinKeneely1) December 2, 2019

Doncic, an early-season MVP candidate has carried the Mavs to the fourth best record in the Western Conference, averaging 30.7 points, 10.3 rebounds and 9.4 assists.

Is there motivation for Young to perform seeing the player he was traded for perform at such a high level?

“I have a lot of different thoughts and motivations,” Young said in a recent ESPN interview. "I think both teams did what’s best for them. I think what we have going on: the rebuilding process, getting a lot of young guys and trying to build that way, build this city up, build the culture we have. It’s great, it’s growing. We have a lot of fans here that are supporting us.

“Obviously in Dallas, they’re more in a win-now situation: going and getting all those free agents, getting Kristaps [Porzingis], Tim [Hardaway Jr.], Seth [Curry], They got a lot of guys that are veterans in this league. Two totally different situations.”

Due to the nature of the circumstances, Doncic and Young are often pitted against each other. The Doncic-Young comparisons are alive and well, even though they may not like it.

“For me, it bothers me,” Young said. “I just love playing basketball, I know he does. So it bothers me because it’s annoying just getting asked about it all the time. But I know it comes with it. I didn’t ask for it to happen, but it happened. It’s two totally different situations, two totally different players. He’s playing well, I’m playing well. Just let it be.”

It was almost a year ago that Young said he would end up being the better player ... in five to 10 years.

But while the comparisons do come frequently -- there’s no sign of them slowing down especially if the two players keep playing like they are this season. Young thinks there’s one thing that might cool down all the debate.

“Retirement," Young said. “I think that’s what it’s gonna take.”