When the Atlanta Hawks drafted Jalen Johnson with the 20th pick in the 2021 NBA draft, they took a player with tremendous upside. It looked like another proactive move from the franchise as they could be in a battle with a large number of teams in the NBA to secure the services of restricted free agent John Collins.
The joy of any preseason is that every team has a chance to be the champion, any player has a chance to make their mark. As the season goes on, this changes but right now, Jalen Johnson is a good chance to make the all-rookie team. He could even become rookie of the year.
It is this hope that drives the teams, gets the hopes up of fans, and generally keeps the industry that is the NBA going. It is an exciting time, started with the draft, and then for a younger player, summer league comes around fast and you need to make an impression on the coaching staff.
The Atlanta Hawks have high hopes for Jalen Johnson.
It certainly was a surprise that Johnson fell all the way to the 20th pick in the draft. The Hawks pounced on this opportunity as it may help alleviate some of the loss of Onyeka Okongwu for the time that he is out of the squad due to his shoulder surgery.
However, each rookie has to start somewhere and Johnson has shown during college and the draft combine the type of player that he is. He is a tremendous transition player who struggles a little in the half-court setting. Let’s take a look at three players who Johnson can be compared to who have made a name for themselves in the NBA.
Atlanta Hawks player comparison No. 1) Larry Nance jr.
Larry Nance jr came into the league as a raw rookie with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was originally selected with the 27th pick in the 2015 NBA draft before playing 63 games in his rookie year, averaging 5.5 points and 5.0 rebounds in 20.1 minutes per game.
His game was not suited to a structured environment in the early part of his career. He had no 3-point shot to speak of, relying on putbacks, and other shots close to the rim. For his first three seasons in the league, he shot 90 percent or greater of his shots from inside the arc.
Now that he has been in the league for a while now, Nance has developed a 3-point shot and is a much better player in the half-court setting. He is even getting the ball into better spots for his teammates, achieving a career-high 3.1 assists per game this season.
This is where Johnson is going to have the advantage over Nance. His ball-handling and passing are already at a higher level than the Ohio product. If coach Nate McMillan can mold him into a half-court player as well as a transition specialist then the Hawks will see him surpass Nance very early in his career.
Atlanta Hawks player comparison No. 2) Josh Smith
If Jalen Johnson can have even half the career that Josh Smith did then this pick will have to be considered a success. Smith was the 17th pick in the 2004 NBA draft. He spent nine seasons with the Hawks prior to signing with the Detroit Pistons in 2013.
When he came into the league he took most of his shots from within the arc but developed a 3-point shot over his career. His early offense was mostly based around hustle, considering he only averaged less than 2.0 offensive rebounds per game twice in his career with the Hawks
He was also an incredible defender, earning an All-Defensive team honor in the 2009-10 season. This is one area that Johnson will need to work on if he is going to attain anything near the level of play that Smith did.
If Johnson is able to utilize his tremendous passing skills, he is going to be able to play a decent role with the Hawks. This is how he is going to unlock his potential when the game slows down. He also needs to make sure that he does not take plays off on the defensive end and then he will have a chance to getting good court time in his rookie season.
Atlanta Hawks player comparison No. 3) Aaron Gordon
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This is perhaps the most common comparison used for Johnson during the draft process. It is also a really exciting prospect as there have not been many players as dynamic and unstoppable in transition as Aaron Gordon.
However, that is mainly due to the athleticism that Gordon possesses. Johnson is a much better ball-handler and passer in transition than Gordon. The high-flying excitement machine that is Gordon started out in the league in a similar manner as the previous two mentioned players and developed.
When he was traded to the Denver Nuggets, his new ball club was looking more for his defensive capabilities and the floor-spacing abilities that he developed during his time in the league. If Johnson can grow into this type of player then the Hawks have the potential steal of the draft.
One thing is certain, his new head coach, Nate McMillan will develop the rookie in the same manner that he developed Onyeka Okongwu last season. He will give him a role on the floor and when he has mastered that, he will give him some more responsibility. He will know that the only way to guarantee court time on this team is to not take a single play lightly.