Jalen Johnson has kept the Atlanta Hawks into the Eastern Conference playoff picture during Trae Young’s injury absence, stepping into a primary role and delivering the most complete stretch of his career.
The 23-year-old forward is playing the best basketball he has ever produced, evolving from a developing rotation piece into a legitimate franchise pillar and the national spotlight is finally catching up.
On ESPN’s NBA Today, Marc Spears put it plainly: “The MVP of the Eastern Conference right now.”
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Johnson’s Breakout Season Backed by Historic Numbers
Spears didn’t offer empty praise. He noted Johnson is the only player in the East averaging at least 22 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, numbers matched league-wide only by Nikola Jokić. Atlanta has won 10 games in November for the first time in 11 years, and Johnson has fueled every bit of it.
For the season, he’s averaging 23.2 points, 10.0 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 1.6 steals while shooting 53.9 percent from the field and 41.3 percent from three. In his last 10 games alone, Johnson has posted 25.4 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 9.1 assists, guiding Atlanta to a 7-3 record while the team remains without Young and Kristaps Porziņģis.
He also joined Larry Bird as the only players in NBA history to record 400+ points, 200+ rebounds, and 140+ assists through the season’s first 20 games, elite territory no matter how you slice it.
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The Former No. 20 Pick Has Become ‘The Guy’
Johnson’s rise hasn’t been linear. He played just 13 games at Duke before turning pro, faced early questions about his readiness, and appeared in only 36 games last year due to a shoulder injury.
But since becoming a full-time starter in 2023-24, he’s steadily climbed. Now he’s anchoring an offense missing its All-Star point guard and delivering superstar-level production.
His 41-point, 14-rebound performance in a double-overtime win against Philadelphia only strengthened the case Spears made: Johnson isn’t just stabilizing Atlanta, he’s elevating them. If this level holds, an All-Star nod is only the beginning. When Young returns, the Hawks’ ceiling may rise with him.