The Atlanta Hawks’ season outlook just took a significant hit.
Already without Jalen Johnson for the last three games, the Hawks must now plan for life without the multi-faceted forward for the rest of the 2024-25 season.
“League sources informed me that Hawks’ Jalen Johnson suffered a torn labrum in the left shoulder and will be out the remainder of the season,” NBA insider Chris Haynes said in a “Haynes Brief” on January 29.
ESPN’s Shams Charania corroborated Haynes’ report with one of his own.
Obviously, this is brutal news for the Hawks and brutal news for Johnson in the midst of a season in which he was being recognized as a true breakout and a player in at least fringe All-Star consideration.
— Brad Rowland (@BTRowland) January 29, 2025
The Hawks simply have no replacement for him on either end of the floor.
“This comes as a huge blow to the Hawks and Johnson considering he emerged as a young star in only his fourth season,” Hayne said in the dour report. “The Hawks have been struggling as of late, and this news, surely, will not help their case.”
Hawks lose Jalen Johnson to season-ending shoulder surgery
Johnson, 22, is averaging 18.9 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists this season, once again putting himself in contention for Most Improved Player and even All-Star consideration.
However, injuries have hindered him.
He missed five games earlier in the season with a shoulder issue, but that was to the right shoulder. Johnson also missed significant time with ankle issues in 2023-24.
Johnson injured himself attempting to grab a rebound against the Toronto Raptors.
The No. 20 overall pick of the 2021 NBA Draft, Johnson has gone from pure prospect to an essential part of what the Hawks want to do on the floor. He holds the best on-off differential on the team, per Cleaning The Glass.