Tag: Jalen Johnson

Austin Reaves took being dunked on by Jalen Johnson in stride

On Monday against the Hawks, Lakers guard Austin Reaves got posterized by Jalen Johnson, but he didn’t seem to mind too much.

The Los Angeles Lakers got back on track, at least for the moment, with a much-needed 136-105 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday. The win snapped a two-game losing slide and put them back into ninth place in the Western Conference.

However, early in the game, it didn’t look good for the Lakers. They gave up the first eight points and fell behind, 11-2, with 9:50 left in the first quarter.

On Atlanta’s very first possession of the game, Jalen Johnson, an emerging forward, ran out on a fast break and dunked over Austin Reaves when Reaves tried to draw a charging foul.

The Lakers guard was asked about the play afterward by Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times, and he didn’t seem to take it personally.

ā€œI think that might be the first time Iā€™ve ever been like, really dunked on,ā€ Reaves said. ā€œSo I made it a really long time without being very athletic, picking my spots to get out of the way. Tried to take a charge. I donā€™t know, super athletic kid. And he got one. The longer I play the game, Iā€™m sure itā€™s gonna happen again.

ā€œSo I ainā€™t too worried about it because kind of the whole sequence of that being the start, and then them kind of having that run. Iā€™m sitting there like, [expletive], thatā€™s what started it all, but we responded really well. And it just gives us the knowing if a team comes out like that, then we can, turn it around pretty quick.ā€

Reaves’ defensive shortcomings have often been exposed this season, but this was the first time he had been embarrassed in that fashion. Although he had a lackluster outing by scoring just 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting, he and his mates had the last laugh.

The Hawks would be incredibly foolish to trade Dejounte Murray back to the Spurs

This rumor doesn’t make much sense for the Hawks.

When the Spurs traded Dejounte Murray to the Hawks, it seemed like a great trade for Atlanta. He was considered an ideal teammate for Trae Young.

Instead, San Antonio decided to fully tank and ended up getting the No. 1 overall pick in a draft that landed them Victor Wembanyama. This trade wound up as a savvy move by the Spurs and one that has led to consistent mediocrity for the Hawks.

Now, according to several league insiders, Murray is potentially once again on the trade block.

It isn’t exactly surprising that Young and Jalen Johnson are reportedly the only untouchable players on the roster for Atlanta. The pairing of Young and Murray is not working and it does not make sense to use a lineup that doesn’t have what it takes to win.

Some potential suitors include the Knicks, Lakers and the 76ers. But, per Shams Charania, another team with registered interest in acquiring Murray is the Spurs.

He could provide a bolster to the backcourt, which has plagued San Antonio all season. Muray could have some interest in a reunion with his former team and his former coach, Gregg Popovich, especially now that Wembanyama is on the roster.

Of course, if there is a Godfather offer presented by San Antonio because they desperately want Murray back on the team, the Hawks should take it.

But why would San Antonio, one of the worst teams in the league, outbid contenders around the league when they aren’t exactly vying for a playoff spot this year?

Based on his value right now, it is unlikely Atlanta would recoup the type of assets they surrendered to initially land Murray. The Hawks sent San Antonio multiple first-round draft picks to acquire the guard and some of this is a sunk cost already.

Perhaps the Hawks would want to reacquire the unprotected pick that they owe the Spurs in 2025 or the pick swaps San Antonio currently controls for both 2026 and 2027.

The problem is that so long as Young is on the roster and fully healthy, it is unlikely that Atlanta could ever bottom out for a high draft pick. So even the ability to regain their draft capital is not as appealing without entering a full rebuild.

San Antonio simply doesn’t have the win-now players that Atlanta would want to play alongside Young. Any move that would send Murray back to the Spurs for pennies on the dollar isn’t worth it.

Maybe one of the other teams like New York, Los Angeles or Philadelphia could offer enough for Atlanta to break up the duo of Young and Murray. But nearly any deal with the Spurs is likely a net loss for the Hawks.

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Jalen Johnson is by far the biggest winner of the John Collins trade for the Hawks

So many of those Trae Young dimes are going to Jalen Johnson now!

Jalen Johnson had another excellent showing during Atlanta’s victory over Orlando in Mexico City on Thursday night.

Johnson, who has moved into the starting lineup for the Hawks, has reached double-digit scoring figures in all but one appearance so far this season. He is averaging career-highs of 14.9 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.

While his jumper has improved, it is his play near the basket where he has most impressed. Johnson is currently shooting 82 percent at the basket, via Cleaning the Glass, and is one of the league’s leaders in dunks.

Johnson’s early ascension from someone who did not play many minutes in his first two professional seasons to where he is today as a crucial player for Atlanta is already quite remarkable.

But none of it would be possible if not for the Hawks trading John Collins during the offseason. The return for Collins wasn’t massive but it created an opening for more offensive touches elsewhere.

Over the course of the past few seasons combined, via PBPStats, no one player assisted a teammate more often than Trae Young found Collins.

Per 36 minutes, Young averaged 3.59 assists to Collins during their time together in Atlanta. Young is now averaging 3.48 assists per 36 to Johnson so far this year, including this remarkable behind-the-back alley-oop dime:

 

Young averaged 7.3 passes per game to Collins last season. This season, many of those looks (and more!) are instead going to Johnson, who has received 8.3 passes per game from the point guard.

The best news of all is that his play is seemingly contributing to winning basketball, too.Ā Atlanta has a positive point differential of 68 points when Johnson has played this season, which is the highest plus-minus of anyone on the roster.

The Hawks have outscored opponents by 22.0 points per 100 possessions when he is on relative to when he is off, via Cleaning the Glass, which ranks in the 93rd percentile among all players in the league this season.

Thanks to the playing time he has received by trading Collins, it seems very possible that Atlanta may have an emerging third star on its roster.

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Hawks’ Jalen Johnson explains how G League helped his development

Johnson averaged 21.1 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks in the G League this season.

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson spent much of his rookie campaign in the NBA G League with the College Park Skyhawks, something he clamored for with playing time at a premium.

The decision to do so made a lasting impression on the organization.

Johnson logged only 22 appearances with Atlanta this season, averaging 2.4 points and 1.2 rebounds in 5.5 minutes per game. He was the victim of a crowded depth chart in the frontcourt with the likes of John Collins, Danilo Gallinari and others ahead of him.

Rather than sit on the bench and miss out on playing time, Johnson elected to stay with the Skyhawks to work on his overall game. Hawks head coach Nate McMillan was impressed with his decision to commit to getting better and playing in the G League.

Jalen, this season, spent a lot of time in the G League and I thought it was really good because he wanted to go there. There wasn’t minutes for him with us with (John) playing the four and Gallo playing the backup four and De’Andre playing some four. For a young guy to want to go and play no matter where to get better, I thought it was really impressive, which I told him. I thought it helped him.

Johnson, in 21 games, averaged 21.1 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks on 47% shooting from the field. He registered 13 double-doubles on the season and had the second-most rebounds in a game this season when he hauled in 23 on Nov. 21.

The 20th pick felt as though his decision-making improved the most throughout the season. He learned to not force it on the court and let things come to him naturally. Johnson, speaking at the Hawks’ exit interview on Wednesday, loved what the G League did for him.

It helped me a lot, especially maturity-wise. I can’t tell you that I would have told myself that I’d rather go to the G League than travel with the team. That was a mature thing for me to do and a big step for my maturity just to be able to put my growth and development first and just see the long-term picture.

Certainly, Johnson impressed those around him by playing with the Skyhawks and working to improve his overall game. That experience should only help him prepare for Year 2 in the NBA as he attempts to carve out a larger role next season.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Hawks’ Jalen Johnson cleared from health and safety protocol

Johnson on Wednesday was cleared from the health and safety protocol but did not play in a win over the Kings.

Atlanta Hawks rookie Jalen Johnson on Wednesday was cleared from the NBA’s health and safety protocol but did not play in a 108-102 victory over the Sacramento Kings.

Johnson was initially placed into the health and safety protocol on Dec. 26 and was one of 10 individuals on the team sidelined because of COVID-19 issues. The team has since gotten most of its roster back and has just two players still out because of the protocol.

The Hawks opted to hold Johnson out of the lineup on Wednesday to allow a ramp-up period for on-court work and conditioning. He will re-join the team and likely be available to play on Friday when the Hawks continue their West Coast road trip in Los Angeles against the Lakers.

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Johnson had played sparingly with the Hawks but appeared in each of their last three games prior to entering the protocol with several players out. He has spent the majority of the season in the NBA G League, averaging 20.1 points, 11.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 12 games.

The Hawks were forced to sign several replacement players, such as Lance Stephenson, Cam Oliver and Malcolm Hill among others. They went 5-9 during the month of December, the sixth-worst record in the league during that time frame.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Hawks’ Jalen Johnson placed in health and safety protocols

Johnson becomes the 10th Hawks player sidelined in the health and safety protocol, joining Trae Young and John Collins among others.

Atlanta Hawks rookie Jalen Johnson has been reportedly placed into the NBA’s health and safety protocols, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Johnson becomes the 10th player on the Hawks sidelined in the health and safety protocol, joining Trae Young, John Collins and Kevin Huerter among others. The Hawks had 12 players available to play on Christmas Day, including four replacements.

Players and coaches entered into the health and safety protocol are required to spend a minimum of 10 days in isolation. However, they can be cleared to play sooner if they return two consecutive negative PCR tests taken at least 24 hours apart.

Atlanta is planning to sign Chaundee Brown Jr. as a replacement player.

Johnson had played sparingly with the Hawks but appeared in each of their last three games with several players out of the lineup. He has spent the majority of the season in the NBA G League, averaging 20.1 points, 11.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 12 games.

The NBA is in the middle of its most challenging stretch of the season as players and teams alike battle the latest wave within the coronavirus pandemic. During the month of December, more than 100 players have entered the health and safety protocol.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Hawks’ Jalen Johnson chose to stay in G League to develop

Johnson has fully committed to being with the College Park Skyhawks in the G League with playing limited in the NBA.

Atlanta Hawks head coach Nate McMillan on Wednesday called the NBA G League a great opportunity for rookie Jalen Johnson to develop and see extended playing time on the court.

Johnson has totaled just 19 minutes across seven appearances with the Hawks so far this season. The team just doesn’t have playing time available with the likes of John Collins and Danilo Gallinari ahead of him on the depth chart.

With playing time limited, Johnson has fully committed to playing with the College Park Skyhawks. The team recently offered to bring him back to the Hawks but Johnson elected to stay with College Park in order to keep playing.

“It’s a great opportunity for him,” McMillan said. “We sent him in pretty much late November to commit to being down there and working with the team as opposed to bringing (him) back and forth. He is getting a lot of minutes and he is developing so that is what it’s for.”

Fully committed to the assignment, Johnson has dazzled with the Skyhawks.

He is averaging 19 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.3 blocked shots in 10 games on 43.4% shooting from the field. He currently ranks second among all G League players in double-doubles (7) while he is fourth in rebounding.

His 22 rebounds on Nov. 21 are the most in a game this season by any player.

The Hawks certainly see plenty of upside with Johnson after taking him with the 20th pick. He projects to be a player that can play multiple positions in the frontcourt but will need additional time to develop.

McMillan likes the versatility he brings to the court.

I think he is a young player that has a lot of skill. His ability to handle the ball, play with the ball, score, shoot the ball. He certainly can play the four but I think he can eventually be able to play some five in this league. He is just a very skillful player that you can put at several different positions.

With playing time at a minimum in the NBA, Johnson has had the opportunity to stay sharp with the Skyhawks and continue working on his game. He is certainly making his mark in the G League and taking full advantage of the opportunity.

His willingness to stay with College Park to log extended playing time certainly shows the level of maturity he brings to the team. It looks as though he will stay in the G League but should be fully ready to contribute once his number is called in the NBA.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Sharife Cooper, Jalen Johnson combine for over 50 in G League

Cooper and Johnson combined to score nearly 60 points to lead the College Park Skyhawks to their first win of the season.

Atlanta Hawks rookies Sharife Cooper and Jalen Johnson on Thursday combined to score nearly 60 points on assignment with the College Park Skyhawks in the NBA G League.

Cooper, who is signed to a two-way contract, produced a season-high 33 points, four assists, three rebounds and two blocked shots to lead the Skyhawks to their first win of the season. He went 10-of-17 from the field, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range.

Johnson neared a triple-double after recording 23 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists and one block in 40 minutes. He registered his fifth double-double of the season with the performance, which is tied for second-most among all players in the G League.

Following the performance, Cooper is now averaging 19.1 points, 5.3 assists and 2.7 rebounds in nine games with the Skyhawks. Meanwhile, Johnson is posting 18.1 points, 11.2 rebounds, three assists, 1.4 steals and one block in eight games.

With playing time at a minimum in the NBA, Cooper and Johnson have had the opportunity to stay sharp with the Skyhawks. They have shown promise with the Skyhawks and have emerged as some of the top first-year players in the G League.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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‘Iā€™m the best player in the draft’: Jalen Johnson confident in abilities

Despite dropping to the Hawks at No. 20 in the draft, Johnson still believes he is the best rookie this year.

Jalen Johnson emerged from the Las Vegas Summer League as one of the top first-year players, and the Atlanta Hawks forward believes that is no coincidence.

Johnson was named to the All-Summer League first team after averaging 19 points, 9.5 rebounds, two assists and 1.3 blocked shots in four appearances with the Hawks. He produced three double-doubles and had two 20-point outings in Las Vegas.

The 6-foot-9 forward was projected by some to be a lottery pick in the draft but ultimately fell to the Hawks at 20. He left Duke early last season after suffering a foot injury that limited him to 13 games and likely dropped as a result.

However, Johnson isn’t concerned with his draft position and firmly believes that Atlanta is the right organization for him. In an interview with Chris Kirschner of The Athletic, Johnson said that he still knows that he is the best player in the draft.

I know Iā€™m the best player in the draft. Iā€™m just that confident in myself. My parents say the same thing. They help with that mindset. They have never put any pressure on me. They are the ones whoā€™ve helped me realize that everything happens for a reason. Thatā€™s where it stems from. My family has been a great support system and they havenā€™t just told me things I want to hear. Theyā€™re not yes men.

Certainly, Johnson showed in summer league that he can be mentioned with the best players in the class. He often dominated the competition and very much looked the part as a player that should have been taken early in the draft.

Johnson knows this season will be all about his development and playing time could be limited due to the depth of the Hawks. He wants to sit back and learn and fully accept any role given to him. He is going to continue to work and be the best player he can be in Atlanta.

In the end, that may very well help his development in the long run.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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A roundup of NBA sleepers draft analysts are higher on than others

Who owns the most real estate on Davion Mitchell Island? Who is buying stock in Sharife Cooper?

Everyone loves Cade Cunningham. It’s not a hot take for an analyst to say that Cunningham is their favorite player in the class. That’s not particularly interesting to read, either.

But what is fascinating, however, is when an analyst deviates from the norm and ranks someone significantly higher than where the prospect falls in other rankings. What does that tell us about their individual scouting process and what they value? Further, what does that tell us about the potential draftee?

Some folks call it “buying stock” in a player. Others, like ESPN’s Zach Lowe or The Ringer’s Bill Simmons, call it owning real estate on a player’s island. I like to refer to it as a “draft crush” when I wind up higher than consensus in my evaluation of a player.

My process is ridiculously tedious but the results can be fairly useful. I’ve tracked the evolution of more than sixty unique mock drafts, big boards and draft models from trusted analysts and popular accounts on Twitter.

Each placement is assigned a value based on Kevin Pelton’s draft pick trade value chart. I do this because, as Pelton notes, the difference in relative value between the No. 5 overall pick and the No. 7 overall is much more stark than, say, that of the No. 45 pick and the No. 47 pick.

After composing an aggregate score based on each ranking, I can see where each analyst strays from the pack.

I’ll leave the conclusions drawn from these results up to the reader. But if nothing else, this can eventually be used as a bragging point if one writer was higher than consensus on a draftee who eventually ends up outperforming his draft position.