The Atlanta Hawks re-signed Jalen Johnson back in October 2024, and they've now been fully vindicated for what was a bit of a controversial decision at the time. Johnson has [turned into an All-Star level player](https://soaringdownsouth.com/hawks-three-legitimate-all-star-candidates-roster) that could be a legitimate franchise cornerstone in Atlanta moving forward.
Headed into the 2024-25 season at the time of his signing, Jalen was averaging just 8.0 points for his entire career. There was no guarantee that he was going to remain a real impactful rotation player in the NBA in the long-term.
Contrast that with the career-high 43-point outing he just put up against the Hornets on Thursday, along with the fact that he's enjoying a breakout season averaging 23.6 points per game, and it's easy to see why it's such a no-brainer that the Hawks ultimately made the right move.
What makes Johnson’s emergence even more impressive is [how complete his game has become](https://soaringdownsouth.com/jalen-johnson-s-star-surge-has-fans-wondering-just-how-far-he-can-go-01kchk4r3qq9). This is not a player simply piling up points on high usage. He has turned into the Hawks' best player, defending multiple positions, rebounding at a high level, and making quick, decisive reads as a passer. Atlanta’s coaching staff has increasingly trusted him to initiate offense from the wing and the high post, a responsibility that would have seemed unrealistic just a season ago.
Jalen Johnson has become an All-Star talent in short order
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From a roster-building perspective, the timing could not be more important. The Hawks have spent the past year searching for stability and clarity around Trae Young, and Johnson’s rise has helped provide both. His emergence has allowed Atlanta to diversify its offense, reducing the burden on Young while making the team less predictable late in games. That balance has been a recurring theme in the Hawks’ improved stretches of play this season.
Defensively, Johnson has quietly become one of Atlanta’s most important anchors. His length and athleticism allow him to switch across positions, and he has grown as a weak-side rim protector. For a Hawks team that has often struggled to generate stops when it matters most, having a forward who can both score and defend at a high level has changed the complexion of their closing lineups.
The financial aspect of the decision looks just as strong. Locking Johnson in before his breakout has already paid dividends, as his contract is now one of the best-value deals on Atlanta’s books. In a league where teams routinely overpay for potential, the Hawks identified it early and acted decisively.
Ultimately, this is the kind of move franchises point to when talking about sustainable success. Atlanta bet on internal development and trusted their own evaluation. Jalen Johnson has rewarded that faith by becoming exactly the type of player every team is desperate to find.