'Hawks breakout star' carries the expectation that first overall pick Zacharie Risacher has silenced the doubters and become future building block next to Trae Young in Atlanta. However, a different Atlanta Hawk has quietly become of the league's most slept on forwards.
An early season candidate for Most Improved Player, Atlana's future looks bright with a collection young, lottery drafted players and veterans Trae Young, Clint Capela, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and De'Andre Hunter.
Say hello to fourth year forward Jalen Johnson. The Duke product looks like the premier steal of the 2021 NBA draft, improving his season numbers each year in the league. This season, Johnson is averaging 19 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, one steal, and one block.
The increase in volume has worsened Johnson's efficiency, shooting 46 percent, 31 percent from three, and 71 percent on free throws. Yet, Johnson's five-year, $150 million rookie contract extension looks like a massive bargain.
The 'do-it-all' forward Jalen Johnson is making history for the Hawks
Johnson's hot start to the season has been quietly historic, If Johnson can hold his averages of 18 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists he'd be the sixth player in NBA history with those single season averages, joining Oscar Robertson, Nikola Jokic, Kevin Garnett, Domantas Sabonis, and Sidney Wicks. Johnson's also recorded a triple-double in this season, putting him in prestigious company with LeBron James. With such a promising start to the season, Atlanta's sitting pretty for their future
Jalen Johnson this season:
— StatMamba (@StatMamba) November 7, 2024
18.9 PPG
10.6 RPG
5.3 APG
On pace to be the youngest forward in NBA history to have a season averaging 15/10/5. pic.twitter.com/ZKLfIQXLp6
Johnson and teammate Dyson Daniels have warranted serious Most Improved Player consideration early into the season, with Daniels separating himself from the rest of the league for Defensive Player of the Year.
The combination of the two with fifth-year big Onyeka Okongwu has formed a formidable core next to franchise star Trae Young. Add in veterans Clint Capela, Bogdan Bogdanovic, De'Andre Hunter, Larry Nance Jr., and rookie Zacharie Risacher (first overall pick), the Hawks future is bright.
Eight players currently average 10 or more points for the Hawks, but their defense has been detrimental towards their success this season. Sporting a 6-8 record, the middle of the Eastern Conference is weak with slow starts from Philadelphia and Milwaukee.
If the Hawks can improve their near-worse in the league scoring defense (120.4 points per game allowed, 28th in the NBA), they could be postseason-bound on the back of their franchise point guard and rising star forward.
The rebuild is running smoothly in Atlanta, but will they eventually hand Johnson the keys to the franchise, or is he best viewed as a supporting secondary player to a franchise cornerstone? Either way, Johnson's production has proven to be sustainable, and his status amongst the league's youngest talent continues to skyrocket upwards.