February couldn't have gotten off to a crazier start for Hawks fans.
Early on the first day of the month, Atlanta traded away fan-favorite forward Vit Krejci to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Duop Reath and two future second-round picks. Initially, it was a puzzling move, but was soon met with positive reception.
The flexibility the organization gained from dealing the sharpshooting forward is undeniable. Everything appears to be on the table as the trade deadline approaches, other than moving their breakout star.
Jalen Johnson, one of Atlanta's very few untouchables, has taken the league by storm this season. He had large expectations entering the year but has exceeded them in every way imaginable. Well, that hard work seems to have paid off.
It was announced Sunday evening, just hours after the shocking Krejci trade, that Johnson was selected as an NBA All-Star reserve. He will be Atlanta's first All-Star since Trae Young in the 2024-25 campaign.
It's always good to see a player making their first All-Star appearance, especially Jalen Johnson, who has been tasked with more responsibilities this season that initially expected.
When Young went down with an early-season injury, Johnson was relied upon to be a temporary first option. When Young was traded to the Washington Wizards at the beginning of the new year, however, Johnson was thrown into that role full-time.
A fifth-year player who's yet to surpass 60 games in a season since becoming a starter, now tasked with being the face of the franchise... What could go wrong?
Clearly, not much. Despite Atlanta's sub-.500 record due to inconsistencies in the lineup, Jalen Johnson has emerged as a bona fide superstar, giving Hawks fans a new world of hope in the post-Trae Young era.
Jalen Johnson's leap has been remarkable to witness first-hand.
On the season, Johnson is averaging 23.1 points, 10.5 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game on 49.9% from the field and 36.0% from three. His numbers have cemented him as one of the Eastern Conference's best forwards, despite still having so much more room to grow.
His final performance before the reserves were officially anounced may have sealed his selection. Against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday night, Johnson recorded another triple-double with 33 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists.
The 2026 NBA All-Star Game will take place on February 15th in Los Angeles, California. Hawks fans are just two weeks away from seeing the new face of their franchise put his game on display on one of the league's biggest stages.
Now that he's officially been named an All-Star, one important question still remains: Will he decide to participate in the dunk contest?