Atlanta Hawks Expected to Make Jalen Johnson a Pillar of Rebuild

Strong points

• Jalen Johnson should be a cornerstone for the Atlanta Hawks moving forward.
• Johnson has shown significant offensive growth, particularly in his shot-creation abilities.
• Johnson’s defensive impact, fast break and rebounding abilities are critical to Atlanta’s future success.

Last season was not particularly memorable for Atlanta Hawks Atlanta fans have had an uneven start to the season, injuries haven’t helped and the Hawks just haven’t been able to find enough rhythm to have a real chance of making noise.

The Hawks ended up landing the first overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, selecting Zaccharie Risacher, which could pay dividends after a lackluster season.

Overall, it’s clear that the Hawks are in a reorganization phase, having traded Dejounte Murray, and Trae Young has been continually mentioned in trade rumors.

But, regardless of what happened in the Young situation, something that stood out as a positive from last season for Atlanta was the play of a young forward/big wing, in Jalen Johnson . Johnson burst onto the scene with plenty of playing time last year, and in the process, he looked like a player who should be one of Atlanta’s priorities from here on out.

Johnson expected to be a mainstay for the Hawks moving forward

Johnson expected to be part of Atlanta’s long-term core

After seeing his minutes increase somewhat in his sophomore season, where he showed flashes, Johnson has been one of Atlanta’s biggest bright spots in his third year.

During the 2023-24 campaign, he averaged 16.0 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game, and his minutes share jumped to 33.9 per game. His shooting percentage was 58.4% and he converted 35.5% of his three-point attempts. An ankle injury limited his availability down the stretch of last season, but when he was on the court, he always made things happen, and for the season in general, he made a huge impact for Atlanta.

He took a leap forward in his shot creation, showed a feel for forward pointing and was very dynamic in the open court.

On the offensive side, Johnson’s workload has clearly increased and, to his credit, he has taken advantage of it and shown he can often make things happen.

After flashing his shot-creating chops at times as a sophomore, Johnson was able to consistently create for himself as a driver and connection player last season.

He was able to reach the paint on decisive drives, and Johnson’s burst, vertical power and body control led him to fill the paint inside. He recorded 9.7 points in the paint per game in 2023-24, and he made 67.6 percent of his field goal attempts inside, according to NBA.com shooting data.

Johnson has used his athleticism and speed to generate quality playmaking opportunities around the basket, and whether he’s attacking the ball after the catch or initiating plays early or mid-game, he’s been tough to contain on the downs. His finishing above the basket is a constant on offense and in transition, whether he’s starting as a ball-handler or filling in as a cutter.

His downhill attack and pressure on the basket will be Johnson’s bread and butter on offense, but he also showed growth in catch-and-shoot last season, and as mentioned above, he’s a legitimate playmaker as a bigger forward/wing.

Johnson made 35.5 percent of his three-point attempts last season, most of them catch-and-shoot attempts. He didn’t make many three-point attempts, 3.6 per outing, but combining them will only make him more capable of completing the three-point pass.

From there, Johnson averaged 3.6 assists per game last season and ranked in the 83rd percentile in assist percentage among bigs, per Cleaning the window. Johnson would be classified as a taller forward/winger, in all honesty.

However you look at it, Johnson’s vision and passing skills make him an intriguing player, and that’s something that can continue for years to come.

He’s certainly a threat on the defensive rebounds, where he makes good decisions in penalty kill or secondary counterattack situations, and in set-piece attacks he can initiate ball swings off a live dribble with both hands and is even a viable lobber and/or inside forward. Johnson is an unselfish player who can make a variety of passes, and his vision of the game at 6’1″ is also a difference maker in that aspect.

However, one should not underestimate what Johnson can bring to the other end of the line.

Johnson showed he could be an effective defensive player in his second season in spurts, and he’s continued that as a playmaker. He’s been a bright spot for Atlanta in that regard, even despite Atlanta’s struggles as a defensive group overall.

Johnson moves well to stay in front of wings and forwards, and he can more than hold his own against other perimeter options. He’s more than capable of handling the ball in space and doesn’t give up angles easily.

From a help standpoint, Johnson is also a legitimate shot-blocking presence on defense, and reads plays well for a young player.

He can regularly anticipate shots from close range and can knock down shots with his timing, athleticism and active hands. Last season, Johnson had 0.8 blocks per game, with a 2.2% block rate, and he had 1.3 steals per 36 minutes.

Finally, his impact on games as a window cleaner shouldn’t be overlooked. Johnson grabbed 8.7 rebounds per game last season, and as he continues to gain experience, he should only get better in that aspect along with his timing and positioning, which should help the transition game.

While Atlanta still has a ways to go as a team in that regard, Johnson is one of the players who can help them turn things around. And regardless of what happens with Young, with trade rumors swirling, Johnson seems like a player on the rise that the Hawks would want to keep around in the coming years.

Johnson, who turns 23 in December, is a true two-way player who can impact games in multiple ways, and last season should give him plenty of confidence moving forward.