Entering into the 2025-26 season, the hype surrounding Jalen Johnson was quieter than he deserved. While he's shown flashes of greatness over the past two seasons, inconsistencies and injuries have led people to question whether he'll ever blossom into more than a complementary piece in this offense.
But so far this season, Jalen Johnson has blown these expectations out of the water, and there aren't many questions surrounding his legitimacy anymore. In fact, the numbers that Jalen Johnson is putting up this season aren't just an improvement; they are on a historic pace in Hawks franchise history.
Through 38 games so far, Johnson is averaging 23.4 ppg, 10.1 rpg, and 8.1 apg, and since the 1976 merger, no other Atlanta Hawk in history has met this threshold.
Not to mention, Jalen Johnson is doing this all on 52% shooting, a feat that even the likes of Trae Young and Dominique Wilkins were unable to achieve.
Jalen Johnson is clearly benefitting without Trae Young
Johnson had a slow start to the season, averaging just 20.5 PPG, 7.0 RPG, and 4.3 APG before Young went down with a knee injury. Since Young was sidelined, however, Johnson's numbers began to skyrocket, averaging 23/10.4/8.6 down the stretch.
Jalen Johnson's historic pace becomes even more staggering when we look at the context of the organization throughout this first half of the season. In a season with no shortage of controversy and turnover, Johnson has filled the void as Atlanta's most consistent playmaker on the court, which was a major concern for Johnson entering this season.
For most teams, this level of uncertainty is almost a guarantee for a lost season, yet Jalen Johnson has almost single-handedly kept this team afloat. Right now, the Hawks are sitting at 9th in the East, good for a spot in the Play-In Tournament if the season were to end today.
Atlanta has emphasized that they're not done negotiating trades ahead of the deadline, and if they can capitalize on trading for a player that compliments Jalen Johnson's play style, then we could really see this team begin to climb up the Eastern Conference rankings. GM Onsi Saleh has maintained a cautious attitude, but could swing on the perfect piece if one became available.
That's what has made Jalen Johnson's output this season that much more impressive; these numbers aren't just empty stats on an already-secure roster. These numbers are the sole catalyst for why the Atlanta Hawks are still in playoff contention.
At just 23 years old, Jalen Johnson has already cemented one of the most balanced and well-rounded seasons in Atlanta Hawks history. If he were to maintain this pace, he'd reach a pinnacle that only the all-time greats have ever been able to reach.