Larry Nance Jr. shares encouraging take on Jalen Johnson from Hawks training camp

To say that big things are expected of fourth-year forward Jalen Johnson would be an understatement.

The Atlanta Hawks youngster has the physical abilities to be a star in the NBA. And his work ethic is proving a perfect match to help him achieve his goals and meet those expectations in due time. 

He is already proving he has taken a critical step in his development early in training camp.

“Being in the West, I only got to play against JJ twice last year,” Hawks big man Larry Nance said, per NBA.com’s Kevin Chouinard on October 3. “You know, you never know what you don’t know. I just thought he was an athletic dude who could run like a deer. I didn’t know the skill level. And then seeing him up close and in person: He dominated practice today. He was amazing. He was knocking down threes in transition.”

Jalen Johnson ‘dominated’ Hawks training camp practice

Johnson showed promise in transition in 2023-24, generating 1.12 points per possession in transition, per NBA.com playtype data.

He also shot the three-ball even better than his final numbers imply.

Johnson shot 35.5% from downtown last season, already a significant improvement form his rookie and second seasons. Within that improvement though, Johnson shot 42.5% from three from the start of the season until he first went down with an injury.

That 15-game span was followed by a 32% mark over the 33 games following his return to the Hawks’ lineup. 

Encouragingly, Johnson shot the long ball at a 39.5% clip over his final eight appearances.

“He’s been really, really impressive, and I’m trying to push him more into speaking some more and leading the group and breaking the huddle and things like that because he’s going to be a guy in this league and with that comes ‘heavy is the head that wears the crown,’” Nance said, per Chouinard.

“He is going to wear the crown one day, and he is being groomed for that.”

Vit Krejci gets shoutout from Larry Nance Jr.

Krejci was a pleasant surprise of the Hawks’ season in 2023-24, and figures to have a key role off the bench this coming season.

“Honestly, I didn’t know much about Vit before I got here, but the dude can really play. He passes, he can dribble, he can shoot it. He’s shooting the heck out of it and he defends. He’s a true 6-foot-7, 6-foot-8. Vit’s been really impressive.”

Training camp is an extension of the offseason when it comes to optimism.

But Nance has spoken like a player who has bought into what the front office and coaching staff have been selling this offseason.