For the second G League contest in a row, Jalen Johnson has shown why the Atlanta Hawks pounced on him in the 2021 NBA draft when he was still available later in the first round. Due to the depth of the Hawks squad, he has struggled to get minutes.
It seems that only a few days ago I was saying that Johnson needed to improve his efficiency in order to be thought about for the varsity squad. The next game the young phenom came out and was so close to his first professional triple-double.
Johnson has shown the ability to learn in a way that is going to benefit him greatly throughout his professional career. He took what he learned from the previous Raptors 905 game and improved on it in the second game against the franchise. He played an even better game to help the College Park Skyhawks to their third win of the season.
If the Atlanta Hawks falter in the fourth in this homestand they need to call up Jalen Johnson.
The Hawks have looked really bad in the past four games in the final period. They have gone on to lose all four of these and while a part of this has been the fouls piling up, it also seems that they are running out of legs at the end of the game.
They could use some of Johnson’s production from the most recent game. Yes, the G League is a step below the NBA but Johnson had 32 points, eight rebounds, six assists, three blocks, and three steals. He absolutely filled up the box score, contributing at a higher level than anyone else on the court.
He was also extremely efficient, going 11-of-17 from the floor including an incredible 6-of-8 from beyond the 3-point line. He also went 2-of-3 from the free-throw line. To put it simply he was everywhere and the 905 had no answers for his play.
With the G-League showcase starting soon, it could be the perfect time for the Hawks to try and ease Johnson into the rotation. His confidence is high and he is showing that he has the ability to contribute on both ends of the court.