Jalen Johnson joins legendary company after historic December performance

Jalen Johnson made history this New Year’s Day after becoming the seventh player to average a 25-point triple-double over a month.

Johnson was the sole bright spot on an Atlanta Hawks team that woefully underperformed last month. Despite a 3-11 record from the team, he put up 25.9 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 10.1 assists on an efficient 56.2% effective field goal percentage.

Strangely, this isn’t the first time Johnson's impact has been compared to the greatest basketball player of the 21st century. While it is impossible to compare any young player to LeBron in good faith, Johnson’s athleticism and all-around impact at the four have led analysts to draw some (very cautiously worded) parallels between the two players.

Johnson is the building block in Atlanta

If it wasn’t already obvious, Johnson is the best player on the Hawks. He isn’t a perfect first option yet, but his impact on the game is readily apparent. He has a +1.2 net rating when adjusting for opponent three point luck, and this is on a team not built for Johnson to lead.

The Hawks have spent years building a team that complements Trae Young perfectly. They’ve swung on countless defense-first guards while looking for rangy wings and mobile centers tailored to Young’s unique playstyle.

Atlanta needs to find Johnson a forward who can guard the three yet assume the help duties of a four. Zaccharie Risacher is developing into this player, but his sophomore slump raises questions about whether he is ready to be a starter on a playoff team. 

The team’s net rating skyrockets when playing Johnson alongside Risacher, Asa Newell, or Mouhamed Gueye, the two other players who fit this description. While Risacher and Newell have made promising growth over their short careers, they still have plenty of room to grow as they reach their respective peaks.

When Johnson’s forward companions reach their peak (or if Atlanta trades for a wing), this team will be unstoppable. Johnson is a nightly 25-point triple-double threat, as this month showed. Young is still an excellent offensive engine and playmaker whose game could be maximized next to a fellow high-usage player. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, Risacher, Vit Krejci, and Onyeka Okongwu form an exciting young supporting cast that masterfully balances diverse skill sets.

GM Onsi Saleh’s work is cut out for him. Elevating this team’s projection from a forgettable playoff entry to a championship will require savvy moves, but the hard part is done. The Atlanta Hawks have found their star, and December was his coming-out party.