Jalen Johnson’s Rise Continues: Hawks Forward Earns Second Eastern Conference Player of the Week Honor
Jalen Johnson is starting to make a habit of showing up in elite company.
The Atlanta Hawks forward just picked up his second Eastern Conference Player of the Week award this season, joining a short list of standout names-Jaylen Brown, Jalen Brunson, and Tyrese Maxey-who’ve also earned the honor twice this year. That’s not just a nod to a hot week; it’s a sign that Johnson is consistently impacting games at a high level.
Only one player in the league has more POTW nods this season: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who’s sitting at three and, not coincidentally, was last season’s MVP. That’s the kind of crowd Johnson is running with right now.
What makes Johnson’s case especially interesting is that his scoring, while impressive, isn’t even the most dominant part of his game. He’s averaging 23.6 points per game on efficient shooting, but it’s his all-around impact that’s turning heads.
According to Cleaning the Glass, Johnson leads all forwards in defensive rebounding percentage. That’s not just cleaning the glass-it’s owning it.
Meanwhile, Databallr has him leading all power forwards in potential assists per 75 possessions, which speaks to his vision and unselfish playmaking.
That’s the kind of statistical profile that doesn’t just show up in the box score-it shows up in wins. And while Johnson isn’t in the MVP conversation yet, the fact that he’s being recognized alongside elite scorers suggests that his ceiling is still rising. If he continues to grow as a scorer-or if the Hawks can surround him with more consistent offensive talent-he could very well find himself in those MVP discussions sooner than later.
A Bright Spot in a Frustrating Season
Let’s be honest: it’s been a tough year for Hawks fans. Expectations were high coming into the season, with many projecting Atlanta to finish in the top four of the Eastern Conference. Instead, they’ve found themselves back in Play-In territory, stuck in that frustrating limbo between potential and performance.
But here’s the difference this time around-there’s a real path forward.
For the first time since the Dejounte Murray trade, the Hawks have a surplus of draft capital. They’re also in position to create significant cap space if they choose to let veterans like CJ McCollum, Jonathan Kuminga, and Buddy Hield walk in the offseason. That kind of flexibility could open the door to a major roster shake-up.
And if the front office can strike gold again in free agency-like they did with Nickeil Alexander-Walker last year-they’ll have the makings of a real five-man core. Add in a potential top-10 pick from the New Orleans Pelicans via this year’s draft, and suddenly the Hawks are sitting on the kind of assets that can change a franchise’s trajectory.
The Future Runs Through Johnson
It all starts with Jalen Johnson. He’s not just a talented young forward-he’s a foundational piece.
A player who rebounds like a big, passes like a guard, and scores with growing confidence. He doesn’t need to be the league’s leading scorer to be its most impactful player.
His versatility, efficiency, and two-way play are already setting him apart.
If Atlanta can build the right team around him-one that complements his skill set and allows him to thrive-the Hawks might finally break out of the Play-In cycle and into something more meaningful.
For now, Johnson’s second Player of the Week award is a well-earned recognition of his breakout season. But if the Hawks play their cards right, it might just be the beginning.