Entering the 2021 NBA draft, expectations for Duke guard Jalen Johnson were minimal to say the least, given that he was still early in his development. To give his doubters credit, his first couple of seasons provided evidence of this.
Jalen Johnson's first two seasons in the league saw him averaging only 10 minutes a night. Even in this limited action, however, his potential was undeniable. Going into the 2023-24 season, Johnson was finally elevated into a starting role, where he has flourished ever since.
Ever since becoming a starter, Jalen Johnson's stats have consistently risen in production across the board. Johnson's minutes per game have remained relatively steady since becoming a starter at around 35 minutes per game, yet his output has consistently improved.
Draft day scouts weren't wrong about Johnson being early in his development, but I don't think anyone could've expected the leap that he's taken this season.
Jalen Johnson has made superstar strides
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With averages of 22.8 points, 8.2 assists, and nearly 11 rebounds a game, Jalen Johnson is well on his way to playing in his first All-Star game this season, but [many fans and analysts alike](https://www.peachtreehoops.com/analysis/66142/atlanta-hawks-history-jalen-johnson-nba-analysis-breakdown-video-xs-os) are wondering what Johnson's ceiling is and when he will reach it, not if.
The difference between an All-Star and a superstar is the consistency in output, and Jalen Johnson has contributed on a nightly basis far better than anyone else in the league up to this point. The scary part is that this may not even be close to what he could become. He has also handled the adversity of losing his co-star Trae Young as well as anyone could have expected, leading the Hawks to a 14-9 record as the lead star.
As Johnson gets more and more offseasons to perfect his craft, this idea of his superstar potential becomes less of a speculation and more of an inevitability. Not only is Johnson making his presence felt on the offensive side of the game, but he's made a serious leap on the defensive side as well. If Jalen Johnson continues this upward trajectory, the sky is the limit for the 23-year-old.
Looking back at the 2021 draft, it's clear that the Hawks were eager to start developing this guy. Fast forward five seasons, and now the discourse surrounding Jalen Johnson is no longer about how far he projects; Jalen Johnson is daring the league to find his limit.