Now that the Atlanta Hawks are 21 games into the season, it is safe to say that Jalen Johnson has officially ‘arrived.’
He put himself on the map last season and now consistently produces star-level numbers. As of December 1st, He is averaging 20.1 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.5 assists. His recent rise up the ranks has beckoned the question: is Jalen Johnson an
NBA All-Star?
Johnson’s playmaking has improved to a world-class level, and he has become the Hawks’ secondary ball handler behind Trae Young.
His decision-making has improved since he received more playmaking opportunities after star guard Dejounte Murray was traded. As a 6’9 point forward, his ability to run the offense allows other scorers to play off the ball, and his versatility has improved on both sides of the floor.
According to Basketball Reference, he is the only player averaging a line of 20 points /10 rebounds /5 rebounds/1 block/1 steal on the season. This is extraordinary, considering he’s still just 22. His rise to stardom has blessed the Hawks with another young franchise cornerstone alongside Young. Although he’s already entered the conversation as one of the best under-25 forwards in the entire league, he has much more to accomplish before he is declared one of the league’s best forwards.
More Talent Than Ever
The Eastern Conference has star power forwards like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, Evan Mobley, and Paolo Banchero.
All of these guys are still in their 20s. Their youth will keep them at the top of the East for a while, but more importantly, their teams have better records. Whether fans like it or not, team success determines a player’s chances of an All-Star selection, and Atlanta’s struggles could continue the next couple of seasons as their roster improves.
The 2024-25 roster is one of their best-supporting casts in the past few seasons, but injuries prevented them from getting off to a good start in October. Bogdan Bogdanovic, De’Andre Hunter, and Kobe Bufkin just returned from long-term injuries. All three have a history of inactivity due to lingering injuries, and even though the Hawks have new medical staff members, injuries continue to occur.
The injuries force Snyder to salvage his best available lineup, and as of December 1st, the Hawks are the 7th seed with a 10-11 record. Johnson has been the team’s most reliable player during this time, and he is a major reason why the Hawks have been producing better results recently.
Atlanta is on a three-game winning streak, and Johnson shined in their two wins over the red-hot 17-3 Cleveland Cavaliers, recording 20+ points, nine rebounds, and seven assists in both games. Despite the final score, he shines every time, but the masses must see his performances translate to wins like these. If the Hawks were a fourth seed, the masses would consider Johnson a top-five power forward in the conference and top-10 in the entire league.
What Does The Future Hold?
Young and Johnson will take the Atlanta Hawks very far if they remain healthy.
The Hawks franchise rarely has had two all-stars simultaneously, and Johnson has shown flashes of superstar potential. This could give Atlanta one of their first superstar duos in franchise history.
It is an exciting time for a Hawks franchise that struggled from the late 2010s to the mid-2020s, but fans will have to wait a couple more years before they see their dynamic duo flying high in the NBA All-Star game together. It isn’t because of a lack of talent but rather due to Johnson’s competition pool in the conference. He has solidified himself as the second-best player on his team after his performances thus far, and he has put the entire league on notice.
Johnson is an early candidate to win the Most Improved Player award this season. His rapid development has put him on a trajectory to become an All-Star at around 25 years old. By that age, he will consistently produce superstar averages that make him perennial. He surprised many people this year after improving even more from last season and signing a five-year $150 million extension with the Hawks. Whether it’s this year or not, Johnson is destined to represent the Eastern Conference All-Star team one day.
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