Jalen Johnson is stepping into the kind of role that comes with more than points, rebounds, and highlight plays. For the Atlanta Hawks, that matters just as much as anything he does on the floor.
Johnson has become the face of the franchise, and whether he pictured himself in that spot when he was drafted or not, that’s the reality now. He’s not treating it like a burden. He’s leaning into it, especially as he heads into his sixth NBA season.
That showed up this summer in a way that says plenty about where his head is at. Johnson confirmed at media day that he invited his rookies, Kingston Flemings and Zuby Ejiofor, out to Los Angeles for offseason runs. The workout video made the rounds, but the bigger story was who was there and why.
Johnson explained it this way: "I think leadership is something that the team wants to see, and more importantly, I want to do that just for my teammates. I want to be one of those guys that they can call on, aside from basketball."
He added, "Just having that type of impact with my teammates, and having that type of relationship with them. I think with Zuby and Kingston, having them come out to LA this summer, I think with them being rookies, and everything being kind of new to them, I just wanted to extend my hand."
For two first-year players, that kind of invitation from the player at the center of the franchise is a big deal. It gives them familiarity before the season even starts, and it sends them into year one already feeling connected to the group around them.
Johnson also knows his own finish to last season didn’t land the way he wanted. He made it clear at media day that he understands that and wants to move forward without letting it define what comes next. The goal now is to put that ending behind him and use it as fuel.
That’s the part Hawks fans should like most. Johnson isn’t just trying to be the best player in the room.
He’s trying to be the guy the room can lean on. And by the sound of it, the rookies already noticed.
In Other News...
Hawks Just Added Two Names Worth Watching In Camp
The Hawks filled two open spots on their 21-man training camp roster by adding forward Cameron Corhen and guard Kobe Johnson, giving the organization a pair of low-risk looks as camp takes shape. Both moves fit the familiar late-summer pattern for Atlanta, where Exhibit 10 signings often serve as a bridge between training camp competition and the G League pipeline.
Johnson is already a returning rights player for the College Park Skyhawks, which makes him an especially natural fit in the system, while Corhen arrives as an undrafted big out of Pittsburgh with a chance to work his way into the affiliate picture. Around the league, similar camp moves kept popping up too, with Miami signing Lester Quinones, Charlotte adding Wyatt Fricks and Detroit waiving Bryson Warren, underscoring how quickly teams are sorting out their final developmental options. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Camp Battle Could Shape More Than Just The Final Roster
Atlantas training camp has opened with the usual blend of player development and roster sorting, but this one carries a little extra weight because the Hawks are already at their limit for standard contracts. With several players on expiring deals and a handful of two-way options in the mix for depth, every rep matters a bit more than it usually would in September, especially for a team still keeping one eye on the draft and another on the trade market.
Mouhamed Gueye is part of the conversation, too, and his spot helps show how much of this roster is still fluid even after the official signings are in place. The Hawks have also used Exhibit-10 deals to bring in additional bodies for camp, which keeps College Park in the picture as a development path, but the more interesting question is how much of this competition is really about filling the last few slots and how much of it is about shaping the front offices next move. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Fans May Not Love What This Center Rumor Would Cost
Atlantas front office has the kind of flexibility that usually keeps it in the center of trade chatter, with a full roster and a stash of expiring salaries that could be used to make something happen. That is why Jalen Duren has surfaced as a player worth monitoring, even if the Pistons have shown no eagerness to move him and the Hawks have reasons to be patient rather than rush into a deal.
Jalen Duren would fill a real need, but the price tag could turn the conversation fast, especially if Detroit treats him like more than a simple trade chip in a sign-and-trade. For Atlanta, the question is not just whether the interest is there, but whether the cost would be too steep for a team that does not appear ready to chase this one aggressively right now. [Read more 🡒]