Like Devin Vassell a year ago with the Spurs, Jalen Johnson is one of the lucky ones of the offseason since he landed a huge contract extension: $150 million over five years! Not bad for a player who averaged 5.6 points two seasons ago, and who is coming off a season with 16 points per game.
It's up to him to take on this very big contract, which will begin in a year, and last night, the Hawks winger equaled his career record with 29 points in the victory on the Pelicans floor.
After a balanced first half, it was he, upon returning from the locker room, who made the decision with 5 points and 2 assists in three minutes to allow Atlanta to create a mini-break (72-67). Like Zaccharie Risacher, he swallows spaces and he has the ability to slip into the intervals to reach the circle.
Good quality of passes
“It was pretty simple. We came back from the locker room knowing what we had to do and raising our level in defense. When you do that, the shots usually start falling in.” explains the Atlanta wingerwho has 2 interceptions and 2 blocks.
Unleashed, Jalen Johnson will string together dunks, including a back one at the end of the match. He might even have been able to get his second career triple-double since he finished with 29 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists.
Seen last season, his quality of passing shines through the screen, whether it is finding a teammate over his shoulder, or looking for an inside in a pocket handkerchief.
In his wake, and that of Trae Young, the Hawks return to victory after four defeats in a row, and Jalen Johnson displays stats worthy of an “MIP”: 18.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.9 interceptions on average!
| 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 |
| 2024-25 | ATL | 6 | 37 | 41.2 | 25.0 | 62.9 | 2.2 | 7.8 | 10.0 | 4.8 | 3.3 | 1.8 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 16.3 |
| Total | 154 | 21 | 49.9 | 32.3 | 68.5 | 0.9 | 4.6 | 5.6 | 2.1 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 9.4 | |
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.
