Nicolet star Jalen Johnson dunks at state over fellow Division 1 prospect
The five-star Nicolet forward skied high for a one-handed catch and flush while drawing a foul in the Division 2 state championship game
Curt Hogg, Now News Group
Wisconsin native Jalen Johnson just posted an unprecedented NBA stat line in an incredible performance.
Jalen Johnson, born in Wausau and a high-school alumnus at both Sun Prairie and Nicolet High School, set career highs in four statistical categories on Nov. 14 as his Atlanta Hawks defeated the Utah Jazz, 132-122.
No player in NBA history has had 31 points, 18 rebounds, 14 assists and seven steals in the same game until Johnson, who was having a superb start to his fifth NBA season even before this game.
The last NBA player to record a quadruple-double in a game was David Robinson in February 1994, and Johnson finished within three steals of that feat.
Johnson, who doesn’t turn 24 until Dec. 18, was taken with the 20th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft out of Duke. He averaged 18.9 points per game last season but it ended early after a left shoulder injury in late January.
He’s on another level this year, averaging 21.5 points in just more than 32 minutes per game, with 9.5 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.8 steals. Johnson, a 6-foot-9 small forward, is shooting 36% from three-point range and 58% from the field. Both would be career bests over a full season.
It’s his third career triple-double. Johnson played 41 minutes and hit 10 of 19 from the field, including four of five three-pointers.
Even without the steals, with the 31 points, 18 rebounds and 14 assists, he achieved something that’s only been done by six other players: Nikola Jokić, Russell Westbrook, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Elgin Baylor and Maurice Stokes.
Jalen Johnson scored 31 points, grabbed 18 rebounds, and dished out 14 assists last night.
That has only happened 13 other times in NBA history.
Forgot to mention he recorded 7 steals as well. If you throw that in, Johnson’s performance was the first of its kind. pic.twitter.com/e3AeLdNchT
— Jim Miloch (@podoffame) November 14, 2025
Johnson led Nicolet to a state title in 2019 and was named the Associated Press boys basketball player of the year in Wisconsin.
With Tyler Herro and Tyrese Haliburton sidelined by injuries, he’s become the top Wisconsinite in the NBA — no offense to Sam Hauser, Brandin Podziemski or Jordan Poole) — although rookie Kon Knueppel is off to a hot start in his career.