Jalen Johnson already announced himself last season, and now the next step may be coming with a little help from LeBron James.
The Hawks forward put together a huge fifth season, finishing with All-NBA honors while averaging 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists across 72 games. That kind of jump was impressive on its own, especially after the season-ending injury he dealt with two years ago. But if this summer is any indication, Johnson may not be done climbing yet.
Recent photos from trainer Chris Johnson showed Jalen back in the gym with James, the same setup the two had last summer. The partnership clearly matters to James, who has already gone on record praising Johnson’s upside on the Mind The Game podcast with co-host Steve Nash.
“I've mentioned Scottie Pippen, man. Obviously, he has a long way to go, but as far as the talent.
You look at a guy with long arms, 6-foot-9, 6-10, runs like a deer, super athletic. He's improved his outside touch.
Putting pressure on the rim. His ability to rebound.
He can guard one through five for the majority of ones and fives, and his playmaking."
That kind of endorsement carries weight. James has a track record of helping players level up, and Austin Reaves is the latest example. The Lakers guard turned into a four-year, $185 million player after once entering the league as an undrafted prospect, and he has credited James repeatedly for helping him grow.
For Johnson, the ceiling is even higher. If Reaves could rise that far, the idea of Johnson eventually pushing toward MVP territory is no longer far-fetched.
There’s also a more immediate payoff for Atlanta. Johnson is still adding muscle and growing more confident, and those gains would have mattered in the Hawks’ playoff series against the New York Knicks. The physicality clearly bothered him, and his confidence seemed to drop along with his effectiveness.
That’s where James’ influence could become even more important. Atlanta’s future hinges on how far Johnson can carry the team, and skepticism about his ceiling still lingers around the league. But the more he absorbs from James, the more obvious it becomes that his game should keep expanding.
James signed a two-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, so the lessons do not have to stop anytime soon. The two will meet multiple times in the Eastern Conference, giving Johnson more chances to test himself against the very player helping shape his next leap.
The Sixers are favored to reach the 2027 NBA Finals, and if Johnson is going to push the Hawks deeper into the postseason, he may eventually have to get through his mentor to do it. That makes for a fitting measuring stick, both for Johnson and for the franchise built around him.
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