Jalen Johnson powers Atlanta Hawks into playoff showdown with New York Knicks after breakout season

Jalen Johnson powers Atlanta Hawks into playoff showdown with New York Knicks after breakout season originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . As the Atlanta Hawks enter the 2026 NBA Playoffs, one storyline has taken center stage: the rise of Jalen Johnson as the team’s driving force.

Heading into a first-round clash with the New York Knicks , Atlanta is no longer just a team with potential—it’s a team with a star capable of changing a series. Johnson’s 2025–26 regular season marked a true breakout. The 24-year-old forward averaged 22.

8 points, 10. 3 rebounds, and 8. 0 assists per game while shooting close to 49% from the field.

Those numbers place him among the league’s most versatile players, as he consistently flirted with triple-doubles and impacted every facet of the game. Whether scoring inside, facilitating offense, or controlling the glass, Johnson became the centerpiece of Atlanta’s system. His emergence also fueled the Hawks ’ success in the standings.