Hawks Potential All-Star Emerges As Triple-Double Threat

Many people predicted that Jalen Johnson would take a big leap this season. He showed promising flashes in the previous two campaigns, but both were cut short by injuries. Ankle sprains and a fractured wrist disqualified Johnson for the Most Improved Player award in the 2023-24 season. He suffered a season-ending shoulder injury last January while averaging career-high numbers across the board.

If Johnson stays healthy this season, he might be in store for his first All-Star selection, more than living up to the lofty standards placed upon him. He affects the game in so many ways, becoming a triple-double threat each night he steps onto the court.

Hawks Potential All-Star Emerges As Triple-Double Threat

Jalen Johnson Takes on a Bigger Offensive Role and Thrives

Trae Young suffered a sprained MCL in his right knee on Oct. 29, a huge blow to the Hawks in the first five games of a promising season with high expectations. Atlanta lost its offensive orchestrator, and for a team that struggled to score in the halfcourt last season, it looked like the Hawks were in trouble. However, Johnson’s leadership and all-around play are a huge reason why Atlanta still holds a 12-8 record, good for fifth in the Eastern Conference, without its All-Star guard. Questions surrounded his ability to find his offensive rhythm in the halfcourt heading into the season, but that no longer seems to be the case.

The Hawks star owns a career-high 25.4% usage rate through 20 games. Johnson averages 21.9 points, 7.3 assists, and 9.6 rebounds per contest. His points and assists represent career-bests. He started the season slowly from beyond the arc, shooting just  9.1% on his three-pointers on 2.2 attempts through five October games. However, Johnson bounced back in a big way in his next 15 games, converting 45.3% from deep on 4.1 attempts. The Hawks lost important three-point volume and spacing when Young went down, but Johnson’s increased efficiency makes up for it.

Triple-Doubles Are Not So Surprising Anymore

Johnson’s unique skill set at 6-foot-9, 220 pounds lays the groundwork for impressive triple-doubles. He has two this season after just two in his previous four campaigns. He became the first Hawks player with multiple triple-doubles in a season since 2019-2020. The double-digit points and rebounds are not surprising, but his assists rose by 2.3 per game this season. He currently holds a streak of ten straight games with at least seven dimes dating back to Nov. 7.

Atlanta starts Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker in the backcourt without Young, but Johnson initiates a lot of the offense. The Hawks run a lot of inverted pick-and-rolls, where either guard sets a screen for the 23-year-old forward. This action creates many mismatches, allowing Johnson to use his ball-handling, size, and athleticism to get to the rim. Atlanta closed out its Nov. 28 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in this fashion. Alexander-Walker and Zaccharie Risacher hit two big three-pointers to ice the game. Johnson finished with 29 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 dimes.