Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson has blossomed into a future star, showcasing the potential to become one of the league’s most best scoring threats from inside the arc. However, last season Johnson showed concerning regression in his jump shot, falling from 35.5% on threes and 48.6% from midrange in 2023-24 to 31.2% and 41.7% respectively. For Johnson to play second fiddle for this Atlanta roster, he has to be able to knock down jump shots.
Johnson is a versatile scoring threat who thrives in transition alongside Trae Young’s quickness and passing ability. In the halfcourt, Johnson is excellent as a cutter and both the screener and ball handler in pick and roll. He possess an incredible combination of length, strength, and speed that can be used to punish nearly any defender.
However, Johnson must show that last season’s shooting was just a slump. If Johnson cannot find his old jump shooting form, life gets much harder for Johnson and the rest of Atlanta’s roster.
Johnson must find his 2023-24 form for the Hawks to hit their ceiling
Johnson is the perfect offensive co-star to fit with Young. Off the ball, Johnson’s cutting ability forces defenders to make an impossible decision between him and Young, and the Young-Johnson pick and roll is a joy to watch.
However, if Johnson is a non-shooting threat, suddenly the Hawks find themselves facing a much greater teambuilding challenge. Dyson Daniels and Onyeka Okongwu are similarly shaky shooters, leaving three members of Atlanta’s young core as potential non-shooters. Playing two non-shooters is difficult, but coaches of Quin Snyder’s caliber can creatively scheme an offense to provide spacing with limited shooting talent. Playing three non-shooters is an offensive death sentence.
Improvement on perimeter shots would not just help his teammates; it would elevate Johnson from a fringe All-Star to one of the best small forwards in the league. Johnson was already unstoppable in the paint last year. If teams had to worry about his jumper, he would be able to exploit closeouts and get downhill much easier.
With the addition of Kristaps Porzingis, the Hawks have a stretch five on a 1-year rental, meaning Johnson can afford one more poor shooting season. However, the Hawks are unlikely to pay Young, Daniels, and Porzingis, all of whom are free agents next season. If Johnson’s shooting woes continue, the Hawks will be forced to make a difficult decision about which young players they value more.