A star of the season for the Hawks, the NBA saw the talent and potential of Jalen Johnson on display in 2023-24.
In the 2022-23 season, Jalen Johnson got an opportunity to step into the rotation after barely featuring in his rookie season. Down the stretch of that season, he really showed his potential — culminating in a game-starring performance off the bench in a Play-In victory against the Miami Heat. Over the summer came an opportunity for Johnson to take the next step —starting power forward John Collins was traded and the starting power forward spot was up for grabs. In fact, it was Johnson’s development in the season was a contributing reason that helped prompt the Hawks’ front office to make the Collins trade in the first place.
“Really the progression of Jalen especially defensively in the last season really gave us a lot hope this year where it’s like, ‘OK, can you put him into the more 4-lineups, whether he’s starting or not and add in some of those elements defensively as well as his playmaking ability,’” said GM Landry Fields at last season’s media day. “We’re excited for his growth this year.”
Johnson went head-to-head with Saddiq Bey for the starting role, Bey initially won out but combined with two losses to start the season and strong performances from Johnson off the bench prompted Hawks head coach Quin Snyder to insert Johnson into the starting lineup. When the two were healthy, it soon became a non-conversation as to who it should be that starts in the lineup: Jalen Johnson was an emerging star within the Atlanta Hawks.
In a larger role, now as a starter, Johnson’s improved game was unleashed. From his driving and how he attacks the rim:
To his athleticism to put pressure on the rim or finish with authority:
(Who could forget this play, the opening play in Los Angeles where Johnson crushed Austin Reaves?):
His improved jumpshot:
His playmaking:
And his rebounding where he can grab the board and lead the attack or find an outlet pass:
Not to mention his impact defensively, whether it was as an on-ball defender or as a rebounder:
You could spend quite a bit of time watching Jalen Johnson highlight compilations: he had an impact in almost every facet of the game. In the end, Johnson averaged 16 points per game on 51% shooting, 35% from three, 73% from the line on 2.6 attempts, 8.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.2 steals in 33 minutes per game.
The team grew more and more confident about Johnson’s abilities and trusted him more and more as the season progressed.
“Whether you want to call it playmaking or facilitating I think he’s getting more and more comfortable — and our team is getting more comfortable — with him having the ball in his hands,” said Snyder of Johnson after a game against the OKC Thunder. “Whether it’s transition or in situations tonight where they were coming to double-team and impact our guards. He’s capable of making plays and making plays for other people as well. You’ve seen him do that in practice settings, but I think his comfort and his confidence doing those things in a game against a good team, that’s something that’s unique to him with his size and athleticism.”
This confidence came on both ends of the floor.
“He’s a very versatile defender,” said De’Andre Hunter of Johnson after an impressive defensive showing against the Los Angeles Lakers. “He can guard one through four, even sometimes the five. He’s always in the passing lanes, he’s athletic, he blocks shots. Having someone like that next to you gives you confidence to be a better defender and also gives the team confidence to defend better.”
In a season which was fraught with disappointment for the Atlanta Hawks, Jalen Johnson was, by far, the brightest most encouraging spot in the 2023-24 season. With his play, Johnson solidified himself in the eyes of many as one of the players who would be worth holding onto and building around. He was the one Hawk that the team could trust on an almost nightly basis on both ends of the floor.
Johnson set multiple career-highs throughout the season, his high-mark coming in two 28 point showing against the Thunder in January and the Pistons in April. Johnson also recorded his first triple-double in that same Detroit game.
I wrote at various points this season that Jalen Johnson was quickly becoming the most important (not to be confused with ‘best’ player) player for the Hawks because of his ability, and his value, to do so many different things the Hawks really need: rebounding, defending, versatility. He was described by Snyder during the season as a ‘Swiss army knife,’ and it’s an accurate analogy. It was almost concerning how quickly the Hawks became so reliant on him in his first season starting, and when he was absent the Hawks could never make up what they missed in Johnson through one rotation player — which speaks to Johnson’s quality and versatility.
Without Johnson, the Hawks’ rebounding in particular really suffered as well as their defense and defensive options, with Johnson only second to Clint Capela in defensive win shares for the Hawks. Sadly, the Hawks almost had to become as used to not having Johnson as they did having him in the lineup.
Johnson played 56 games this season, with two injuries in particular sidelining him for prolonged periods of time: a wrist injury in a November game against the Wizards which ruled him out for just over a month. Johnson had various problems with his ankles which also saw him miss game time, but a decisive ankle injury occurred during the Hawks’ run-in, a double-overtime loss to the Miami Heat on April 9th, one from which Johnson did not return from as the Hawks’ season ended in the Play-In game in Chicago. Had he not missed as much time, Johnson would have been a very strong contender for Most Improved Player: his improvement this season was among the biggest jumps in the NBA.
These injuries slightly marred what was a hugely impressive season from Johnson, who has strengthened his position heading into contract extension discussions when the Hawks and Johnson can agree on an extension later this year as Johnson enters his fourth season.
At the end of it all, during the Hawks’ exit interviews, Snyder outlined in detail Johnson’s season, his growth and his path going forward in his development.
“Do you want one thing? I can give you a lot on Jalen!” quipped Snyder during the Hawks’ exit interviews. “I think he had a terrific year. He was a guy that dealt with some things he couldn’t control, as far as a couple of ankle injuries and when he got upended in Washington when he broke his wrist. One of the things he did last year is he really worked, he worked on certain things which were areas where he really wanted to get better. I anticipate him doing that again this summer. As Jalen moves forward in his career I think he’s someone — because of his mindset — that we’ll see continue to improve.
“Last year there was focus on his skill work as handling his passing his shooting, and there was also focus on his health his body and his and the health performance side. I think we saw strides with both of those even when he did sprain his ankle how he handled the treatment and how he got himself back. Obviously the biggest thing I think for him because of his feel for the game he has so many different situations where he has to read what the best option is, and you’re not always going to have a clear this is the best option.
“There’s a continuum there, is this is a high percentage shot, this is a higher percentage shot you know there there are so many things that go into it this is a good pass this is a better pass. When you have someone that’s able to make plays like that there’s a layer of the game that unfolds that that you have to prepare yourself mentally and physically to be able to make all those decisions in a really efficient way. I think he’ll continue to get more and more efficient and play better, and better defense.”
Johnson himself didn’t quite elaborate as much as Snyder but throws down a different gauntlet for himself for the summer ahead.
“Everybody thinks it was a good year, I think it can be better,” said Johnson during the exit interviews. “That’s my mindset heading into the summer.”
An ominous warning indeed; what heights can Jalen Johnson reach? Off the evidence of this season, they could be lofty heights indeed…