Jalen Johnson’s Ascension Gives Hawks a New Franchise Cornerstone
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Atlanta opened the NBA season unsure of its long-term direction and finished it with a clear focal point: 24-year-old forward Jalen Johnson.
ESPN writer Zach Kram awarded himself an A+ on his preseason forecast that Johnson would land on the All-NBA Third Team. The forward validated that confidence by posting career highs of 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists, becoming the Hawks’ primary option after the franchise traded former centerpiece Trae Young.
“The 24-year-old’s emergence gives Atlanta a new direction after trading Young,” Kram wrote while evaluating his preseason predictions.
Johnson’s production dipped slightly in the playoffs to 19.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists, but his impact helped Atlanta secure the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference and avoid the Play-In Tournament that many observers had expected. The Hawks ultimately fell to the New York Knicks in the first round, yet the campaign was widely labeled a success.
Looking ahead, Kram projects Atlanta to remain in the postseason picture with Johnson at the forefront. If this season is any indication, the Hawks appear to have identified the face of their future.
Source: Hoops Wire
