Jalen Johnson wanted to stay in Atlanta, so he can be happy to have extended his contract for five seasons in Georgia. Most importantly, he did it by signing for $150 million. Which is not nothing, even in times of wage inflation.
The Hawks interior, however, only showed a good season averaging 16 points and 8.7 rebounds. So giving him that much is risky. Why did leaders feel this was the right solution?
“Jalen Johnson is a player we see with us for the long term, a player we want to build with. SIf we look at his journey since Duke, it’s a story of progression. He is a player, with his game and his character, who sticks with us, with our DNA,” responds GM Landry Fields, The Athletic. “He works like crazy and is willing to do whatever it takes to get better. For many, this is not the case. He embodies all of that. When you have players like that, you want to invest in them. We are happy and impatient because he has great potential. »
Not a bad financial calculation
The idea is to associate him for several seasons with Zaccharie Risacher, who has just arrived. The two young people will grow up together and, in a few seasons, perhaps this duo will be of capital importance in Atlanta.
In addition, the managers have certainly decided to pay him $150 million until 2030, but the payroll will increase over the years, as usual, while the player's salary will not change and will remain at 30 million per year. It will therefore take up less and less space in the accounts.
“This allows us not to have too many question marks. We had identified him as a player we wanted to keep in the future,” continues Landry Fields. “It’s good that this contract thing isn’t hanging over his head until next summer. It helps the team too: we are committed to him and he is committed to us. »
| Jalen Johnson | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2021-22 | ATL | 22 | 6 | 53.7 | 23.1 | 71.4 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 2.4 |
| 2022-23 | ATL | 70 | 15 | 49.1 | 28.8 | 62.8 | 0.7 | 3.3 | 4.0 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 5.6 |
| 2023-24 | ATL | 56 | 34 | 51.1 | 35.5 | 72.8 | 1.3 | 7.4 | 8.7 | 3.6 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 16.0 |
| Total | 148 | 21 | 50.6 | 32.8 | 69.4 | 0.9 | 4.5 | 5.4 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 9.1 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
