No team has benefited more from the early stages of the 2025 NBA preseason than the Atlanta Hawks—and it's fair to assume no team will moving forward. For the first time since Jan. 23, star player Jalen Johnson took the court for Atlanta in a 2025-26 preseason debut that put all of the pieces in place.
Atlanta still has questions to answer and chemistry to develop, but simply getting Johnson back on the court has been the biggest win imaginable.
Johnson was well on his way to being a virtual lock for the All-Star Game when he suffered a torn labrum in his left shoulder that required season-ending surgery. There was immediate optimism that he'd be ready to return by the start of the 2025-26 campaign, but nothing was set in stone.
With Johnson back on the court for the preseason opener, the Hawks can officially begin the process of establishing realistic short-term and long-term expectations.
Johnson played 17 minutes alongside his returning and new Atlanta teammates in his first NBA action in nearly nine months. That includes new frontcourt partner Kristaps Porzingis and key additions to the second unit such as Nickeil Alexander-Walker, N'Faly Dante, and Luke Kennard.
Patience will be essential if the Hawks are hoping to realize their potential, but having Johnson back for the preseason opener is an early win that could go a long way toward shaping their success.
Hawks star Jalen Johnson is officially back from shoulder surgery
Johnson's season was cut short just as his rise to stardom was taking shape. He'd recorded averages of 18.9 points, 10.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.7 offensive boards, 1.6 steals, 1.0 block, and 1.2 three-point field goals made per game.
Had he played the qualifying number of games, Johnson would've been the only player in the NBA to average at least 15.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.0 block, and 1.0 steal per game.
Still just 23 years of age, it's safe to believe that Johnson is only scratching the surface of his full potential. That's a terrifying thought for the rest of the NBA considering he's already looking the part of one of the most well-rounded players in the Association.
A two-way player who recorded a double-double in 20 of his 36 appearances, a triple-double in one, and 20-point showings in half of his games in 2024-25, Johnson is on his way to elite two-way status.
In 2025-26, there's every reason to be optimistic about the type of step forward he can take as a player. Porzingis is a perfect interior complement as the prototypical 3-and-D big, capable of protecting the rim and spacing the floor in equally as prolific measures.
Atlanta's efforts to surround Johnson and Trae Young with improved shooting goes beyond Porzingis, which is great news after the team ranked No. 18 in three-point field goal percentage in 2024-25.
Jalen Johnson has the ideal surroundings for another leap to stardom
Alexander-Walker, Kennard, and Porzingis are all efficient shooters brought in to improve the spacing with which Atlanta's offense operates. That's promising news for a downhill player like Johnson who can work inside-out or outside-in, but needs space to function.
That was on display during his preseason debut, when the fifth-year forward scored 11 points in 17 minutes, shooting 5-of-8 and adding two blocks and two steals to his tally.
Johnson was impressive from the start, hitting a step-back one-legged jumper from just outside the paint off of a transition attack for his first basket. He also blocked a jump shot, made several key off-ball plays defensively, and knocked down a three—a promising sign that he may get back to the 35.5 percent shooting from distance he managed in 2023-24.
Johnson also threw down an alley-oop from Young that acted as a clear reminder of how dangerous he can be around the rim.
It's yet to be seen exactly what type of role Johnson will play under head coach Quin Snyder in Atlanta's new-look rotation. What's unavoidable, however, is that he's a special talent who has been surrounded by high-level players who suit his general abilities and approach to the game.
Other teams will experience their own crucial developments, but no one will win bigger this preseason than Atlanta getting Johnson back to start the process of establishing team chemistry.