The Atlanta Hawks are making waves in the NBA, and it's getting harder for anyone to overlook their rise. They've been on a tear, winning 14 of their last 16 games, which catapulted them past the Play-In Tournament straight into the Eastern Conference playoffs.
This remarkable turnaround isn’t the result of one player alone, but Jalen Johnson is undeniably leading the charge. Now in his sixth NBA season, the 6'8" forward has elevated his game to new heights, significantly boosting the Hawks' prospects as they enter a promising new era.
Johnson is putting up career-best numbers, averaging 22.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, 8.1 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, with an impressive 49.3% shooting from the field. This stellar performance earned him his first NBA All-Star selection, and it looks like just the beginning of a long list of accolades.
While it might be early to crown him the best player in the world, Johnson’s trajectory is certainly pointing in that direction. The league is starting to take notice, and for good reason.
Recently, Johnson has found himself in elite company, climbing the NBA’s MVP Ladder. For two consecutive weeks, he's held the seventh spot, a testament to his outstanding individual stats and the Hawks' success as a team.
Sitting at seventh, Johnson is ahead of some big names like Anthony Edwards, Donovan Mitchell, and Kawhi Leonard, each having stellar seasons themselves. Leonard, notably, is enjoying perhaps the best year of his career.
Johnson is just behind Cade Cunningham, who has led the Pistons to the top seed in the Eastern Conference. With Cunningham likely out for the rest of the regular season, Johnson has a chance to climb even higher on the MVP Ladder.
While he may not take home the MVP award this season, Jalen Johnson is certainly on the league’s radar. If he continues on this path, he could be a top contender as soon as next year. Keep an eye on him-he's just getting started.