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Jalen Johnson’s breakout season earns him first All-NBA third team honor originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Jalen Johnson officially entered the NBA’s elite tier after being named to the All-NBA Third Team following a breakout 2025-26 season with the Atlanta Hawks.
Johnson’s rise from promising young forward to one of the league’s most complete players became impossible to ignore throughout the season. The 23-year-old averaged 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game while shooting nearly 49 percent from the field. Those numbers placed him among the NBA’s most versatile forwards and helped Atlanta remain competitive in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
The All-NBA honor capped off a remarkable year that also included Johnson’s first NBA All-Star selection. The Hawks forward emerged as one of the league’s premier all-around playmakers, consistently filling the stat sheet while expanding his offensive role.
Johnson produced several historic performances during the season. He became the first player in NBA history to record at least 31 points, 18 rebounds, 14 assists and seven steals in a single game during Atlanta’s win over Utah in November. He also recorded multiple triple-doubles and established himself as one of the league’s best rebounding forwards.
Analysts frequently mentioned Johnson in discussions involving the league’s most improved and most impactful players throughout the season. His versatility allowed Atlanta to use him as both a scorer and primary facilitator, with Johnson ranking among the NBA leaders in assists for frontcourt players.
Johnson’s rise to All-NBA status
The Hawks rewarded his emergence earlier in the season with a long-term contract extension, signaling their belief that Johnson has become a foundational piece for the franchise moving forward.
Perhaps most impressive was Johnson’s consistency. He regularly delivered near triple-double performances while guarding multiple positions defensively. Atlanta’s offense often ran through Johnson during critical stretches, and his improved decision-making became one of the biggest reasons for the Hawks’ success.
Johnson’s All-NBA selection also reflects the growing respect he has earned around the league. Once viewed primarily as an athletic prospect with upside, he has now developed into one of the NBA’s most dynamic two-way forwards.
For Atlanta, Johnson’s breakthrough season may only be the beginning of an even brighter future.
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