Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson is one of the most well-rounded players in the NBA. He's a high-level scoring threat, capable three-point shooter, elite playmaker, and dominant rebounder who can defend multiple positions and work both with and without the ball on offense.
For as brilliant as he may be, Johnson still has one essential hurdle to leap over if he wants to become a true superstar: Learning to score efficiently in isolation.
Johnson is currently averaging 22.6 points, 10.3 rebounds, 7.9 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.7 three-point field goals made per game on .488/.349/.788 shooting. Those numbers have helped him earn his first career All-Star Game appearance and an expected first All-NBA nod.
It's with good reason, as Johnson is on pace to join Nikola Jokic and Russell Westbrook as the only players in NBA history to average at least 20.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 1.0 steal, and 1.0 three-point field goal made per game.
Unfortunately, the Hawks' recent 122-116 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers exposed an unfortunate truth. Johnson shot just 4-of-16 from the field during the six-point loss, as he struggled to overcome the pressure from reigning Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley.
Though it was only one game, it also highlighted a fatal flaw as Johnson continued to struggle to generate offense in isolation when his team has needed it.
Jalen Johnson won't be a superstar until he resolves isolation woes
Johnson is averaging just 0.77 points per isolation possession in 2025-26. He's also shooting just 37.0 percent from the field in isolation situations, which creates the foundation upon which this constructive criticism is made.
Furthermore, among players who are averaging at least 7.0 points via drives per game, only Keyonte George has a worse field goal percentage on drives than Johnson.
Johnson is a tremendous all-around player who makes the game simpler for his teammates, but if he's going to be a No. 1 scoring option, he needs to be able to excel in one-on-one situations. That will prove particularly essential in the playoffs.
If Johnson is unable to create in isolation situations in the postseason, then the Hawks may find it difficult to overcome opponents with elite isolation scorers.
That's a daunting possibility considering James Harden and Donovan Mitchell are a part of the projected first-round matchup for the Hawks. With the likes of Jaylen Brown, Jalen Brunson, and Cade Cunningham among potential second round or Conference Finals opponents, the time is now for Johnson to right the ship.
Johnson is only 25 and is in his first season as a go-to player, but if he wants to check the superstar box and help the Hawks contend, then he needs to improve his isolation scoring proficinecy.