Voting for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles is officially underway.
Despite battling injuries and competing in a talented conference, the Atlanta Hawks have several players that belong in the All-Star conversation this season.
From Jalen Johnson, to Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Trae Young, Atlanta's roster is loaded with players deserving of a chance to represent the organization at one of the year's most exciting events.
Here is the case for each of Atlanta's top candidates:
Jalen Johnson
This one is obvious. The guy who just recorded his fourth consecutive triple-double deserves more than just an appearance in the game. Johnson's dominant season has put him in discussions to be an All-Star starter.
While his candidacy to be selected to the game should be a lock, Atlanta historically hasn't been given much grace from the voters.
His season numbers, however, are simply undeniable. On the year, Johnson is averaging career-highs across the board.
22.8 points, 10.5 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game on 51.6% from the field and 38.5% from three should be enough to give him his first All-Star nod.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Talk about an unexpected leap...
NAW came into his first season as a Hawk with a clear role: be the sixth-man on a contending Eastern Conference team.
When Trae Young went down, however, he was forced into the starting lineup. To the immense luck of Hawks fans, Alexander-Walker has not let Young's absence handicap the team.
Instead, he became the two-way weapon the Hawks have desperately needed for quite some time. While maintaining the same level of defensive success he's had his entire career, NAW has entered his offensive prime.
His scoring numbers this year have leaped his previous career-high by double-digits.
On the season, Alexander-Walker is averaging 20.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game, shooting 39.1% from deep on over seven attempts a night.
This jump into stardom alone should be enough to give NAW his first career All-Star nod. If anything, he absolutely deserves to be a top candidate for this year's Most Improved Player award.
Trae Young
To be clear, if the All-Star Game was this month, Young would obviously not be selected. Luckily for him, there are nearly three months remaining for him to make a legitimate case.
Young has been out since October 29th with a right MCL sprain.
In just five games with the Hawks this season, Young is averaging 17.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game on 37.1% from the field and 19.2% from deep.
While those numbers are career-lows, context matters. There has not been nearly enough of a sample size to determine how the 4-time All-Star's season has gone.
When he returns to action, he will have to adjust to Atlanta's new-look lineup. The adjustment period was supposed to take place in the first month of the season, but when Young went down with his injury, the timeline saw a major shift.
If he gets it together soon after his long-awaited return, there is more than enough time for Young to impress the voters and earn his fifth career All-Star nod.