All eyes are on the Atlanta Hawks with the No. 8 overall selection in the 2026 NBA Draft. With it, a team that went 46-36 and reached the playoffs as the No. 6 seed will have a chance to add one of the top players in a deep class of prospects.
What Jalen Johnson has proven, however, is that the Hawks aren't limited to one shot at a star in the 2026 NBA Draft. They'll have another sincere opportunity at No. 23 overall.
Johnson has emerged as the Hawks' franchise player, piecing together a skill set that puts him in the upper echelon of NBA players. In 2025-26, he joined three-time MVP Nikola Jokic as the only players to average at least 20.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game.
In doing so, the 24-year-old forward secured his first career All-Star Game appearance and should land an All-NBA nod, as well.
Long before he was the Hawks' franchise player, however, Johnson was the No. 20 overall selection in the 2021 NBA Draft. Considering Atlanta's 2026 pick is just three spots after No. 20, they should proceed with absolute confidence in their ability to turn No. 23 into a meaningful selection.
With Johnson proving that a pick in the 20s can come with star potential, the Hawks will have two separate opportunities to land landscape-altering talent at the 2026 NBA Draft.
Jalen Johnson, drafted at No. 20, proof Hawks' No. 23 pick can yield a star
Johnson isn't alone in terms of players who either became stars, starters, or key reserves despite being drafted after No. 20 overall. In 2021 alone, the likes of Santi Aldama, Ayo Dosunmu, Quentin Grimes, Herb Jones, Miles McBride, and Neemias Queta were all selected after No. 23.
In 2022, Christian Braun and Walker Kessler were selected at No. 21 and No. 22, and Andrew Nembhard, Ryan Rollins, Peyton Watson, and Jaylin Williams were all drafted after No. 23.
Other players drafted after No. 23 in recent years include Kyshawn George, Ajay Mitchell, and Brice Sensabaugh. Each of those players display the significant upside that exists beyond the lottery, let alone in the range of the Hawks' second 2026 first-round selection.
Any one of the listed players would also be able to slot into the Hawks' rotation with relative ease and either operate as a starter, sixth man, or critical reserve.
Clearly, no pick is guaranteed to land, and a selection in the range of No. 23 has a lower success rate than a lottery choice. What Johnson leads the charge in proving, however, is how much talent can be found if teams scout and develop well beyond the typical range of top picks.
If the Hawks trust their scouts and invest in the No. 23 pick's potential in 2026, then they could land two stars or at least two high-level players in the NBA Draft.
Add us as a preferred source on Google