Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks
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Jalen Johnson tied a season-high in rebounds with 18 in an impressive win over the Phoenix Suns.
On Jan. 23, the Atlanta Hawks pulled out an impressive 110-103 win over the Phoenix Suns. Jalen Johnson finished with his third consecutive double-double scoring 23 points and adding 18 rebounds. He tied a career-high in rebounds, achieving the feat for the third time this season.
His 18 rebounds tied a season-high. Johnson continues to showcase his talents on the court and has made a strong case to be considered for the All-Star Game. He is the only player in NBA history to have a game with 31 points, 18 rebounds, 14 assists, and seven steals.
On the season, Johnson is averaging 23.2 points, 10.5 rebounds, and eight assists per game. He is top 10 in the league in rebounds per game and top five in assists per game. Atlanta has won its last two games after dropping four straight and Johnson played a key role in both victories.
Jalen Johnson Dominating on the Glass
Johnson recorded his third consecutive game with 15 or more rebounds in the win over Phoenix. He has displayed versatility in his game whether its scoring, rebounding, or passing. But on the glass Johnson has dominated, especially on the defensive end.
He’s averaging nine defensive rebounds and 1.5 offensive boards. Johnson has taken his game to another level this season and has become the main guy for the Hawks. Now that Trae Young is gone, Johnson is becoming the face of the franchise.
Last season, Johnson only appeared in 36 games and averaged 10 rebounds. This season, he’s been healthy and has made significant contributions to his team. Johnson leads the team in rebounds with the next person averaging just under eight. He plays with a lot of physicality and that’s a big reason why he’s been successful on the glass this season.
Jalen Johnson Making Tremendous Strides
Johnson is nearly averaging a triple-double on the season. Coming off a year where he missed more than half the season, Johnson has made significant strides this season. He has done it all for the Hawks. One thing that Johnson has done a good job of, is playing without the ball in his hands. Hawks’ head coach Quin Snyder praised Johnson for the hard work he puts in on the court.
“[Jalen’s] challenge is to feel those situations,” Snyder said after the Hawks win over the Suns. “That’s a responsibility that he has, and I think he’s embraced and is continuing to work on that. Playing without the ball, running, and doing a lot of the things he’s doing for us. It’s a huge part of who we are as a team, and he’s pivotal to that.”
Johnson is a player that the Hawks can build around and they have a good group of young players already with some key veterans. With how he’s playing right now, Johnson can do down as one of the all-time greats for the Hawks, if he stays with the organization. The sky is the limit for Johnson and this year we could potentially see him play in his first All-Star Game. Atlanta has a bright future with Johnson as the centerpiece.