The citizens of Atlanta have been rewarded for their patience with the Hawks franchise after witnessing the arrival of Jalen Johnson this season. He had always shown potential, but his rise this year is undeniable. At 23 years old, he finds himself four triple-doubles away from having the all-time record in Hawks history.
His performances have attracted attention from the mainstream media, and he’s averaging 22.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 7.3 assists over 19 games. Now, the Hawks (13-8) are comfortably above .500 for the first time in four seasons. Considering that Trae Young has missed 16 games and they’re beating top teams, it’s a positive sign for this new roster.
Johnson’s defensive gravity and his ability to make his teammates better is driving the Hawks' success. He’s taken the reins as the star of the team in Young’s absence, and now he’s being hailed as an All-Star in year five.
Fans are comparing him to some of the league’s best power forwards, in particular divisional rival Paolo Banchero. The former first overall pick has certainly shown flashes of stardom at 23-years of age. After winning Rookie Of The Year in 2023, he earned an All-Star selection the following year in 2024, and followed it up with a playoff appearance in 2025.
Banchero and the Magic were eliminated by the Boston Celtics last season, and now they find themselves sharing a similar record with the Hawks at 12-8. Paolo also has similar stats to Johnson with 21.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 4.1 assists. Their parallels this season have beckoned the question: Has Jalen Johnson Surpassed Banchero?
Johnson has caught up to Banchero this season
The two former Duke forwards each serve different roles on their teams, but both are vital to their ball clubs' success. Jalen serves as the second option behind Young when the Hawks are fully healthy, whereas Banchero is the primary option. Both average over 20 points per game, but they score in different ways.
Jalen thrives when driving to the rim and scoring in transition, whereas Banchero relies on his jumpshot more often. Jalen been more efficient this season, shooting 53.9% from the field, a sharp increase over Banchero's 46%. On the defensive end, the Hawks' star has more steals (31) this season, but Banchero has more blocks (11).
Johnson also has the edge in rebounding this season, grabbing 187, compared to Banchero's 104. Their playmaking ability has been close in previous years, but Johnson has dished out 138 assists, compared to Banchero’s 49.
Both players share many similarities, and for the moment, Paolo has the edge in accolades. As time goes on, Johnson will gain more recognition, and if he receives his first All-Star selection this year, it will level the playing field.
Fans will compare the two forwards as they face off over the next decade, and as of December 1st, the Hawks have defeated the Magic twice already. Unfortunately for Orlando, Banchero is dealing with a lingering groin injury, so for now, Johnson has the edge in availability, which is the best ability.