Currently sitting in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, the Atlanta Hawks have been one of the early success stories in the NBA this season. Despite being without the services of their top stars, they continue to find a way to win games. As Atlanta continues to ride its positive momentum, one key member of the roster earned high praise.
The Hawks have been without Trae Young since Oct. 29, but they’ve managed to fill the void left by the All-Star point guard. Among those who have stepped up in a big way is forward Jalen Johnson. Taking on a larger role in Atlanta’s offense, the former first-round pick is putting up some of the best numbers of his career. Through his first 19 appearances, Johnson is averaging 22.9 points, 9.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists.
Over the weekend, Johnson put together his latest dominant outing. Fresh off notching a triple-double against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the dynamic forward shined in a double-overtime thriller against the Philadelphia 76ers. Johnson went on to end the night with 41 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists in a 142-134 win for the Hawks.