Atlanta Hawks Sign Jalen Johnson to Contract Extension

The Atlanta Hawks announced today that they have signed forward Jalen Johnson to a contract extension, which will begin with the 2025-26 NBA season. While the terms of the deal were not disclosed, the extension solidifies Johnson’s future in Atlanta, where he has emerged as a key player for the team.

“Jalen Johnson embodies the characteristics we look for as an organization, both on and off the court,” said Hawks General Manager Landry Fields. “He has shown continuous improvement each year and has the character and work ethic to continue to grow his game. He has developed into a significant part of our team, and we’re thrilled to continue his development in Atlanta.”

Breakout 2023-24 Season

In the 2023-24 season, Johnson played 56 games, posting career-high numbers across the board. He averaged 16.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game, while playing 33.7 minutes per contest. Johnson also improved his shooting percentages, with a field goal percentage of 51.1%, a three-point percentage of 35.5%, and a free-throw percentage of 72.8%.

His all-around play placed him in elite company. Johnson was one of only four players in the NBA last season to average at least 16 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal while shooting above 50% from the field, 30% from three, and 70% from the free-throw line. He joined a prestigious group alongside Nikola Jokic, Bam Adebayo, and Joel Embiid.

Major Improvement

Johnson’s leap from the 2022-23 season to the 2023-24 season was remarkable. His scoring increased by 10.4 points per game (from 5.6 to 16.0), and his rebounding improved by 4.7 per game (from 4.0 to 8.7). According to Elias Sports, Johnson became the first player since Zach Randolph (2003-04) to boost his scoring by at least 10 points and his rebounding by at least 4 rebounds per game in a single season. He’s only the second player in Hawks history to accomplish this, joining Hall of Famer Cliff Hagan.

Notable Performances

During the 2023-24 campaign, Johnson scored 10 or more points in 47 of the 56 games he played, including 16 games where he scored at least 20 points. He recorded 19 double-doubles, bringing his career total to 20. One of his standout performances came in a win over the Detroit Pistons on April 3, 2024, when Johnson recorded his first career triple-double with 28 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block. That performance placed him in historic company, making him just the seventh player in NBA history to achieve those numbers in a single game, alongside legends like Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson.

The 6-foot-9 forward also posted eight games of at least 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists last season, the most by a Hawk since Josh Smith in 2012-13. Johnson enters the 2024-25 season with five career games of at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists, and he is just eight games away from tying Bob Pettit for the franchise record for the most such games by any Hawk under the age of 23.

Career Overview

In his three NBA seasons, Johnson has played in 148 games (58 starts), with career averages of 9.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 20.6 minutes per game. He has been efficient, shooting 50.6% from the field, 32.8% from three-point range, and 69.4% from the free-throw line.

With this contract extension, the Hawks are committing to Johnson’s future, banking on his continued growth as he enters the prime of his career. Fans can look forward to seeing him build on his breakout season and further establish himself as a core piece of the Hawks’ roster.

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