The Atlanta Hawks are sixth in the Eastern Conference, despite losing Trae Young to a right knee injury. Breakout performances have sprung up all across the team, from Onyeka Okongwu to Vit Krejci to Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
But above all, Jalen Johnson’s continued growth has powered the Hawks' hot start. Since Young’s injury, Johnson has averaged 23.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 7.9 assists, and 1.8 steals on elite efficiency (61.4% EFG, +7.0 over league average), and the Hawks are 8-4 in games he plays in.
Johnson is a different type of star than Young. The latter can be a one-man offense who dominates games with meticulous pick and rolls akin to Allen Iverson or James Harden, though less effective. Johnson, however, is not this player – his usage rate this season is 6.8% lower than Young’s 2024-25 campaign despite being the primary star.
Instead, Johnson is an all-around presence. He is an elite scorer, but he is far from Young’s peak scoring output of over 30 points a night. He’s averaged a double-double since losing his co-star, which couldn’t have been more helpful given Atlanta’s rebounding woes to start the season.
Perhaps most importantly, Johnson has inspired a schematic shift across the team from halfcourt to transition offense. The Hawks have been pushing the break under Johnson's leadership and are generating fun, successful results. He has excellent court vision after grabbing a board, and his dominant athleticism can turn even a poor transition opportunity into an easy look at the rim.
Johnson has surpassed Young as an overall player at this point, and this development could cause a rift in contract negotiations. If we assume Young remains a Hawk, however, his fit next to Johnson couldn’t be better.
The play starts with Jalen Johnson getting a rebound and looking to push the ball in transition. If the fast break is covered or unavailable, the ball finds its way to Young, who resets the offense. He generates a shot for himself or a teammate through a screen, then Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Dyson Daniels become the stars on the ensuing defensive possession.
Another perk of the Young-Johnson pairing is that Young’s presence can allow Johnson to return to his previous level as a defender. Johnson’s defense as a whole has taken a steep decline relative to years past, and part of this must be due to his increased offensive role. With a decreased offensive role, Johnson could afford to spend more of his energy on the defensive side of the ball.
Johnson has been a dominant force this year and is here to stay. He is currently seventh in the NBA’s MVP ladder and would be firmly in the All-NBA race if the season ended today. The sky is the limit for this team once Young returns from his knee injury.