Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson got his first career triple-double on Wednesday night, recording 28 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists, and four steals in a win against the Detroit Pistons.
His career night was timely, as the Hawks clinched a Play-In Tournament berth by defeating Detroit. Winning six out of their last seven games, Atlanta has played as well as anyone expected since Trae Young sustained a finger injury.
Jalen Johnson’s First Career Triple-Double Leads to Hawks Postseason Berth
Following the game, Hawks head coach Quin Snyder spoke about Johnson’s performance and his development since being promoted to the starting lineup this season.
“Tonight was a stellar game,” Snyder says.
“You mentioned the assists. He just let the game come to him. There are a number of times he was just finding people.”
“When you do that, and then all the sudden when the game is on the line, he had that pick-and-pop where he banged the 3, he got the ball to the dots and went up strong and made a shot, he made a couple of free-throws. Just a lot of really good things that he did. And as I said, he took what the defense gave him.”
Johnson scored a team-high 11 points in the fourth quarter, going 4-4 from the field, including 1-1 from 3. He also led the Hawks with six rebounds in the quarter, adding a pair of assists and a steal. Athletic, versatile, patient, and intelligent, Johnson’s play-finishing and playmaking make him a glue piece.
“He’s a basketball player,” Snyder says of Johnson. “He can shoot, pass, handle. He doesn’t predetermine what he is going to do.”
Unlocking the Hawks’ Potential
Johnson has been compared to Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James due to his all-around ability. He still needs to develop his one-on-one scoring ability. At this point in his career, he relies more on his physical tools than footwork and shooting touch. However, he’s still managed to average a career-high 16.2 points per game.
Until he improves as a go-to scorer, his play style and impact are more similar to that of Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon. A connector and defensive lynchpin, the dynamic that Gordon adds to Denver is often understated. Although Nikola Jokic rightly receives the bulk of the attention, Gordon does plenty to unlock the Nuggets’ potential.
The same is true for Johnson.
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