Where do you see Jalen Johnson’s role/career trajectory in 5 years?
January 23, 2026
Where do you see Jalen Johnson’s role/career trajectory in 5 years?
40 comments
As much as I want to say superstar, i think Jalen is more suited as the second best player on a championship team. I don’t know if he can ever truly become an elite shot creator in the half court, and it’ll prolly be best if the hawks can get a better number one scoring option in the future to be that 1A guy. But still Jalen can prolly be a great 1B, and maybe the decreased offensive workload will bring his defense back
If he improves his defense he could be a first team all nba guy. He still isn’t a guy who takes over and closes out fourth quarters but i have more faith he’ll get there than i do that he’ll get there defensively
Broccoli boy is laid back and doesn’t have that fire/aggression to be a #1 option on a championship team or a Giannis-type player physically. I think he can definitely be a 1B kind of player on any contender in the future though, if he improves his defense.
Traded to wizards for Kris Middleton
I see him as a nba journeyman i don’t see him finishing his career in Atlanta i see him moving around being a valuable piece on teams
He’s slow laterally. Limits his defense and offense. Has to settle for a lot of tough fadeaway mid range, can’t beat his guy at the top.
Can still be a perennial all star next to a true 1 option
Jayson Tatum. All around good at everything guy but not really MVP candidate because he’s not the best at one thing that gets the most focus, like best scorer.
Either he’ll be a great #1 option and get booed out of Atlanta because we’re terrible fans or he’ll be our sweet special boi #2 option overshadowed by another great #1 option that we’ll boo out of Atlanta because we’re terrible fans.
The hypocrisy is just hilarious with yall
Hel get taxed to Los Angeles for Luka
He’s a jack of all trades that will grow into form more, but I doubt he’ll reach All NBA level because he won’t be the top of anything in particular.
He’ll never dominate shooting or defense, but he’ll be good at both.
That isn’t necessarily a bad thing and he is invaluable, but he’s not going to reach near SGA level stardom. We really need our pick to be in the top 2-3.
Even though pundits don’t like Boozer/JJ, I think they’d be a great fit, and I like the idea of having them with OO for 3 PFs that can kind of cover those 3-5 roles and also play the perimeter and hit 3s.
It’s not traditional, but I think it would could be pretty difficult to play against.
We need a good, smart distributor PG for this build though.
It’s tough to say. I think he could make another jump next year and be a bonafied #1, but at his current level in the last month he looks like a #2.
This season is uncharted waters for JJ in more ways than one. Yes he is being asked to be the focal point and the “guy” for the first time in his career, but he also has never played this much in the NBA before. His seasons have always been derailed by injuries, meaning he never really got the chance to play several months in a row in the NBA until now. I honestly think he and his body are still adjusting to this level of output, and it has lead to some lazy looking defensive possessions.
If JJ ends the season healthy and starts next season healthy I could see him taking another jump – this time with his body in the right groove to play more consistently on both sides of the ball.
Zacch’s second option
Tatum without the offensive polish. He doesn’t have a big enough offensive toolkit to stress defenses like a true number 1 option but the size and athleticism still helps him overcome it at times. Great 1B tho, if we ever get that 1A (Darryn Peterson) we can be great.
Scenario 1 – he develops into the all NBA guy most of us think he can be.
Outcome – hawks will trade him to avoid paying a super max
Scenario 2 – he is what he is already, and doesn’t take another leap.
Outcome – hawks are disappointed and decide to trade him to avoid paying too much for a role player
Scenario 3 – he regresses somehow
Outcome – hawks tade him as an expiring contract
I’m not very positive on the hawks right now
Being a role player to cj mccollum
5x Finals MVP
Good player on a middling team that eventually gets moved after his fanbase complains.
TMac lite.
Good number two option on a good team. I dont think he’s a true number one option. If he’s a teams best player, then that team is probably going to be bad.
4-5 time Allstar for a perrenial middling 5/6-Playin team.
Traded! Hawks are a transition team for premier ball teams
1-3x All-Star. Maybe a third team All-NBA in there. Unless there’s another jump coming, I don’t really see him becoming a consensus top 10 player in the league outside of a fluke season where a lot of other bigger names don’t meet the games played threshold – especially with all-nba going positionless. I see him topping out somewhere in the range of late career PG, Jaylen Brown, Jalen Williams, or Raptors Siakam – guys who can look phenomenal next to a superstar and hold things down for a time if need be, but who cannot be expected to be the definitive best player on a perennial contender.
Traded for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert
Optimistic outlook: JJ stays and grows as the Hawks #1 option for a few years and by the end of his current contract, the Pels pick player reaches their superstar potential allowing JJ to be a high end #2 on a perennial contender
Playing overseas
All Star and 3rd team all nba
Think he’ll settle into about what he is now expect with a little more consistency and craft. Say 22-25 ppg / 10-12 rpg / 8-10 apg on good efficiency. Those are interesting numbers. There aren’t many putting up numbers like those. Closest comp I can find is Giddey whose step this year has been equally as incredible. Think both need a 2nd star which is something we lack though.
Think people are too nitpicky on his defense. One look at those All-NBA teams and you realize that it is very much a defense optional award. With the numbers that he’s proven he can put up, the system should be set up so he can save himself on that end more. Be that changing out the system itself or just moving him to a role that is less challenging within the current system – whatever works. Would also help him understand better as to when he needs to turn up the dial on his defense.
I see him as a number 1 but he needs to go back to his early year defense to get to MVP levels. Also I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets a Jaylen Brown treatment with our pels pick where it’s just 2 star players with quality players around them. Just don’t run him out of town
I hope he becomes Tatum
3x all nba
Probably improves for a while, tops out at a random ECF, then wanders through a few stagnant years before we trade him to the Wizards for peanuts.
Sorry what was the question?
yall are acting as though he is physically incapable of becoming a better shooter and a better ball handler in the half court. its 100% possible lol, what matters is IF he puts the effort. I can see him doing everything well.
Playing for another team bc he was up fora max deal
22, 7, 5 guy. Better version of Tobias Harris. BTW, I don’t consider this an insult.
Hes a great #2 to Mo Gueye
He will be the star people thought Trae would be assuming a good draft this year. They should be able to pair him with another great player
He’ll be on his 3rd contract, finishing his contract the year prior (2030). We’re currently paying him as if he’s destined to be a 2nd or 3rd option. Unless we’re contending or confident he’s a 1st option, his $30m/year contract will likely be too attractive not to trade in 2029.
40 comments
As much as I want to say superstar, i think Jalen is more suited as the second best player on a championship team. I don’t know if he can ever truly become an elite shot creator in the half court, and it’ll prolly be best if the hawks can get a better number one scoring option in the future to be that 1A guy. But still Jalen can prolly be a great 1B, and maybe the decreased offensive workload will bring his defense back
If he improves his defense he could be a first team all nba guy. He still isn’t a guy who takes over and closes out fourth quarters but i have more faith he’ll get there than i do that he’ll get there defensively
Broccoli boy is laid back and doesn’t have that fire/aggression to be a #1 option on a championship team or a Giannis-type player physically. I think he can definitely be a 1B kind of player on any contender in the future though, if he improves his defense.
Traded to wizards for Kris Middleton
I see him as a nba journeyman i don’t see him finishing his career in Atlanta i see him moving around being a valuable piece on teams
He’s slow laterally. Limits his defense and offense. Has to settle for a lot of tough fadeaway mid range, can’t beat his guy at the top.
Can still be a perennial all star next to a true 1 option
Jayson Tatum. All around good at everything guy but not really MVP candidate because he’s not the best at one thing that gets the most focus, like best scorer.
Either he’ll be a great #1 option and get booed out of Atlanta because we’re terrible fans or he’ll be our sweet special boi #2 option overshadowed by another great #1 option that we’ll boo out of Atlanta because we’re terrible fans.
The hypocrisy is just hilarious with yall
Hel get taxed to Los Angeles for Luka
He’s a jack of all trades that will grow into form more, but I doubt he’ll reach All NBA level because he won’t be the top of anything in particular.
He’ll never dominate shooting or defense, but he’ll be good at both.
That isn’t necessarily a bad thing and he is invaluable, but he’s not going to reach near SGA level stardom. We really need our pick to be in the top 2-3.
Even though pundits don’t like Boozer/JJ, I think they’d be a great fit, and I like the idea of having them with OO for 3 PFs that can kind of cover those 3-5 roles and also play the perimeter and hit 3s.
It’s not traditional, but I think it would could be pretty difficult to play against.
We need a good, smart distributor PG for this build though.
It’s tough to say. I think he could make another jump next year and be a bonafied #1, but at his current level in the last month he looks like a #2.
This season is uncharted waters for JJ in more ways than one. Yes he is being asked to be the focal point and the “guy” for the first time in his career, but he also has never played this much in the NBA before. His seasons have always been derailed by injuries, meaning he never really got the chance to play several months in a row in the NBA until now. I honestly think he and his body are still adjusting to this level of output, and it has lead to some lazy looking defensive possessions.
If JJ ends the season healthy and starts next season healthy I could see him taking another jump – this time with his body in the right groove to play more consistently on both sides of the ball.
Zacch’s second option
Tatum without the offensive polish. He doesn’t have a big enough offensive toolkit to stress defenses like a true number 1 option but the size and athleticism still helps him overcome it at times. Great 1B tho, if we ever get that 1A (Darryn Peterson) we can be great.
Scenario 1 – he develops into the all NBA guy most of us think he can be.
Outcome – hawks will trade him to avoid paying a super max
Scenario 2 – he is what he is already, and doesn’t take another leap.
Outcome – hawks are disappointed and decide to trade him to avoid paying too much for a role player
Scenario 3 – he regresses somehow
Outcome – hawks tade him as an expiring contract
I’m not very positive on the hawks right now
Being a role player to cj mccollum
5x Finals MVP
Good player on a middling team that eventually gets moved after his fanbase complains.
TMac lite.
Good number two option on a good team. I dont think he’s a true number one option. If he’s a teams best player, then that team is probably going to be bad.
4-5 time Allstar for a perrenial middling 5/6-Playin team.
Traded! Hawks are a transition team for premier ball teams
1-3x All-Star. Maybe a third team All-NBA in there. Unless there’s another jump coming, I don’t really see him becoming a consensus top 10 player in the league outside of a fluke season where a lot of other bigger names don’t meet the games played threshold – especially with all-nba going positionless. I see him topping out somewhere in the range of late career PG, Jaylen Brown, Jalen Williams, or Raptors Siakam – guys who can look phenomenal next to a superstar and hold things down for a time if need be, but who cannot be expected to be the definitive best player on a perennial contender.
Traded for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert
Optimistic outlook: JJ stays and grows as the Hawks #1 option for a few years and by the end of his current contract, the Pels pick player reaches their superstar potential allowing JJ to be a high end #2 on a perennial contender
Playing overseas
All Star and 3rd team all nba
Think he’ll settle into about what he is now expect with a little more consistency and craft. Say 22-25 ppg / 10-12 rpg / 8-10 apg on good efficiency. Those are interesting numbers. There aren’t many putting up numbers like those. Closest comp I can find is Giddey whose step this year has been equally as incredible. Think both need a 2nd star which is something we lack though.
Think people are too nitpicky on his defense. One look at those All-NBA teams and you realize that it is very much a defense optional award. With the numbers that he’s proven he can put up, the system should be set up so he can save himself on that end more. Be that changing out the system itself or just moving him to a role that is less challenging within the current system – whatever works. Would also help him understand better as to when he needs to turn up the dial on his defense.
I see him as a number 1 but he needs to go back to his early year defense to get to MVP levels. Also I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets a Jaylen Brown treatment with our pels pick where it’s just 2 star players with quality players around them. Just don’t run him out of town
I hope he becomes Tatum
3x all nba
Probably improves for a while, tops out at a random ECF, then wanders through a few stagnant years before we trade him to the Wizards for peanuts.
Sorry what was the question?
yall are acting as though he is physically incapable of becoming a better shooter and a better ball handler in the half court. its 100% possible lol, what matters is IF he puts the effort. I can see him doing everything well.
Playing for another team bc he was up fora max deal
22, 7, 5 guy. Better version of Tobias Harris. BTW, I don’t consider this an insult.
Hes a great #2 to Mo Gueye
He will be the star people thought Trae would be assuming a good draft this year. They should be able to pair him with another great player
He’ll be on his 3rd contract, finishing his contract the year prior (2030). We’re currently paying him as if he’s destined to be a 2nd or 3rd option. Unless we’re contending or confident he’s a 1st option, his $30m/year contract will likely be too attractive not to trade in 2029.