NEWS: UCLA’s Kobe Johnson has agreed to a deal with the Atlanta Hawks, a source told ESPN.

Three-time All-Defensive team member in the Pac 12 and Big Ten. pic.twitter.com/LBkuR2qCk4

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 27, 2025

UCLA Bruins guard Kobe Johnson didn’t hear his name called on NBA draft night, but his opportunity to play professionally in the NBA still emerged. Johnson signed a contract with Atlanta Hawks, according to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony on Twitter.

Johnson has the opportunity to play beside his older brother, small forward Jalen Johnson on the Atlanta Hawks. Jalen Johnson was drafted by the Hawks in 2021 with the No. 20 pick, but will be returning from a season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, according to ESPN.

The Atlanta Hawks received a 2026 First Round pick and drafted Georgia forward Asa Newell with the No. 23 pick in the NBA’s 2025 draft after a trade down from No. 13 with the New Orleans Pelicans. Following the conclusion of the draft, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Real Madrid’s Eli John Ndiaye signed a two-way contract with the Hawks. That made Johnson the third player of the draft class to sign with the Hawks and the first UCLA player signed by any team this year.

Johnson played his first three years for the University of Southern California Trojans, but finished his collegiate career at UCLA for the 2024-25 season.

The 6-foot-6-inch guard put up a defensive clinic in his final three years of college earning back-to-back-to-back All-Defensive Team honors for his final two years for the Trojans in the PAC-12 and his year with the Bruins in the Big Ten.

According to UCLA, the three-time All-Defensive player “averaged 7.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game in his collegiate career.” 

The Atlanta Hawks pairing the Johnson brothers add an excitement to the team and pairing them alongside a rookie like Newell makes them an intriguing team to watch this upcoming season.

Real Madrid’s Eli John Ndiaye agreed to a two-way contract with Atlanta Hawks, sources tell ESPN.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 27, 2025