Jalen Johnson broke out as a star last year, playing in 36 games until suffering a torn labrum in his left shoulder in January. Aside from some unfortunate injuries, the 23-year-old has demonstrated a well-rounded skill set as a 6’10 point forward and has solidified himself as the secondary scoring option within the Atlanta Hawks hierarchy.
His ability to finish at the rim, combined with Trae Young’s passing ability, has turned Johnson into a lethal scoring threat. According to NBA.com, he finished 72% of his FGA in the restricted area and 75% of his alley-oop attempts. Over the last two seasons, he’s proven himself as the most athletic Hawk on the roster; unfortunately, his torn labrum may cause issues when he returns this season.
Studies have shown that NBA and NHL athletes have showcased reduced performance when returning from surgery. The league witnessed Ja Morant return from a torn labrum last season, and he got off to a slow start in November, shooting below 50% three out of five games. His scoring numbers became inconsistent in December, producing 30+ points on some nights and single digits on others.
Morant is a proven superstar who has experienced adversity, so it’ll be interesting to see how Johnson reacclimates. Last season, he averaged 18.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 5.0 assists, excellent stats for a fourth-year player.
Can Johnson Rise To An Even Higher Level?
Johnson is expected to take an even bigger leap this season, and his next logical step is All-Star status. Ironically, injuries have altered the landscape of the East with multiple stars unavailable next season.
Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton will both miss the entire season with Achilles injuries, causing their franchises to implode internally. Both championship contenders lost pieces of their core in free agency, and their teams will fall in the Eastern Conference standings.
These two perennial contenders dropping in the standings will allow the new look Hawks to rise to a high seed, giving Johnson a grand stage to perform on. He has proven himself as a scorer, rebounder, and playmaker, so he just needs the spotlight to hit the next level.
The 2026 format will be Team USA vs Team World, and the majority of the All-Star forwards, including Tatum, Paolo Banchero, Karl-Anthony Towns, Pascal Siakam, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Evan Mobley, all hail from the Eastern Conference.
Johnson will battle these bigs for All-Star status, which will be difficult for Johnson. Banchero has proven himself as a 22-year-old superstar, leading Orlando to a top-3 seed last season before losing Jalen Suggs and Moritz Wagner to season-ending injuries. They’ll likely return to a similar position this season, and given their roster, they’ll be a perennial contender for years to come.
For the Hawks, their new pieces have to prove they can co-exist, but as one of the biggest winners of free agency, they’ll be a top-five seed in the injury-riddled Eastern Conference. If Johnson can continue his improvement and stay health, he's all but guaranteed an All-Star appearance. He is already known throughout the NBA for his high-flying dunks and great defense.
Playing alongside 4-time All-Star Trae Young will only draw more attention to Johnson, and having the star duo for the majority of the season guarantees the Hawks will also make the playoffs. As the Hawks make the playoffs consistently over the next few years, Johnson will become a perennial All-Star as the co-star of one of the league’s best point guards.