{"id":158598,"date":"2025-09-11T14:30:23","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T18:30:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=158598"},"modified":"2025-09-11T14:30:23","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T18:30:23","slug":"jalen-johnsons-all-star-case-for-the-2025-26-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/09\/11\/jalen-johnsons-all-star-case-for-the-2025-26-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Jalen Johnson’s All-Star Case For The 2025-26 Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jalen Johnson<\/a> was in the midst of a second consecutive breakout season in January before suffering a season-ending torn left labrum. His injury derailed his All-Star hopes and the Atlanta Hawks’ chances of competing for a top-six seed in the Eastern Conference. The combination of athleticism, defensive versatility, ball-handling, playmaking, and shooting is hard to find in a 6-foot-9-inch power forward.<\/p>\n

Johnson enters next season with high expectations on a Hawks team looking to compete near the top of the East. Based on the team improvement and Johnson’s track record, the fifth-year forward will vie for his first All-Star bid in the 2025-26 campaign.<\/p>\n

Jalen Johnson’s All-Star Case For The 2025-26 Season<\/h2>\n

The Best Situation of his Career<\/h3>\n

Johnson averaged 18.9 points, 10.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.6 steals, and shot 50% from the field last season. He garnered All-Star consideration<\/a> before the shoulder injury limited him to just 36 games. Atlanta never had the depth to cover up the hole at starting power forward, but it improved the roster<\/a> this summer, putting Johnson in an even better situation this fall.<\/p>\n

Kristaps Porzi\u0146\u0123is’<\/a> arrival and Onyeka Okongwu’s<\/a>\u00a0enhanced perimeter shot open up so much for Atlanta’s young star. Johnson played next to Clint Capela<\/a> for the past two seasons. While the now Houston Rockets center was a strong rebounder and lob threat, his perimeter limitations clogged the paint. Capela could not space the floor, placing a ceiling on the Johnson-Young pick-and-roll. Johnson’s bread and butter is finishing strong above the rim off the roll or with a head of steam in transition. If Porzi\u0146\u0123is or Okongwu<\/a> spaces outside the arc, defenses will have to decide to leave capable 3-point shooters or try to stop Johnson’s ferocious rack attack.<\/p>\n

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JALEN JOHNSON ELEVATES AND SLAMS IT DOWN! pic.twitter.com\/prXPS5fqKX<\/a><\/p>\n

— NBA (@NBA) January 23, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n