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Featured Image: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Hawks Star Forward Enjoying Breakout Shooting Season

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By Michael Kobrinsky | Last updated Dec 5, 2025 7:00 AM ET

The Atlanta Hawks brought in Kristaps Porziņģis this past summer for his rim protection and 3-point shooting. His long-range marksmanship pairs perfectly with Jalen Johnson, as he wants to attack the rim whenever he can. However, Porziņģis played in only 12 of the Hawks’ first 23 games of the season due to multiple illnesses and resting on back-to-backs. The Hawks missed a big part of their 3-point offense, but Johnson and Onyeka Okongwu’s career-best shooting campaigns helped the team stay afloat with Porziņģis sidelined.

Hawks Star Forward Enjoying Breakout Shooting Season

Many people had high expectations for Johnson entering his fifth NBA season. His combination of size, athleticism, handle, rebounding, playmaking, and strong inside finishing makes him a matchup nightmare for opposing teams. However, questions surrounded his ability to create his own shot in the halfcourt and become a consistent 3-point threat. Through the Hawks’ first 23 games, Johnson answered these questions without hesitation.

Jalen Johnson Adds Long-Range Shooting to His Deep Offensive Bag

The 20th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft averages career highs of 23.2 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 7.3 assists on the campaign. He takes 4.0 3-pointers per game, hitting them at 41.3%- also career bests. Defenses cannot play Johnson too tightly on the perimeter because he uses his speed and handle to blow by defenders and punish teams in the paint. Therefore, opposing teams like to go under ball screens, limiting his ability to go downhill with a head of steam. Johnson’s improved 3-point shot now allows him to punish this defensive coverage, but it took him some time to find his 2025-26 outside stroke.

JALEN HAS 40 pic.twitter.com/hg8pkBVkAI

— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) December 1, 2025

Johnson wasted no time finding his overall offensive groove this season. He scored 20.5 points on 58.6% shooting over his first games. Despite his success, he did not hit a 3-pointer in five of those contests, starting the campaign 7-26 from beyond the arc. He only cashed in from deep multiple times twice in those first 10 games, but these numbers increased as the season moved along.

Over Atlanta’s last 10 contests, Johnson’s 3-point numbers skyrocketed, shooting 48.1% on 5.4 attempts per game. He made at least three shots from downtown in his last three contests. After his 29-point (3-7 from 3-point range), 12-rebound, 12-assist performance against the Cleveland Cavaliers, I asked Johnson about his increased volume and confidence from beyond the arc.

“I’m just shooting my shot. That’s all it comes down to. I’m not thinking as much … if I catch it and I’m open, I’m letting it fly,” said Atlanta’s star forward. Johnson shows no hesitation or signs of slowing down from deep.

I asked Jalen Johnson about him shooting more threes lately compared to the opening few weeks of the season. Here was his response: pic.twitter.com/yf2VjeVYLC

— Mikey Kobrinsky (@MRKHoops) November 29, 2025

Johnson’s Outside Shooting Raises the Hawks’ Ceiling

Featured Image: Allan Henry-Imagn images

Last season, the Hawks created many open looks from beyond the arc. However, they did not have enough shooting to capitalize on these opportunities. The team ranked second in 3-point openness and only finished 19th in efficiency. General manager Onsi Saleh addressed this issue by acquiring Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Luke Kennard, and Porziņģis over the summer.

Alexander-Walker is enjoying a career-best season alongside Johnson. Both players picked up their scoring and outside shooting after Trae Young went down with a sprained MCL. Atlanta ranks ninth in 3-point percentage through 23 games, suggesting its efficiency problems from last season have stopped. Johnson’s dual-threat as a driver and now quality 3-point shooter enhances the Hawks’ offense as a whole. He can operate on the ball in pick-and-rolls and also serve as a spacer when Young, Dyson Daniels, and Alexander-Walker drive to the paint. Johnson certainly looks to be in store for his first All-Star selection in his third consecutive breakout campaign.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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