The Atlanta Hawks have been dealt a devastating setback, as rising star Jalen Johnson will undergo surgery for a left shoulder injury that will sideline him for the rest of the season. Johnson sustained the injury in last Thursday’s 122-119 loss to the Toronto Raptors while fouling Scottie Barnes in the second quarter. He immediately exited the game and did not return. Coming into the contest, he was already dealing with right shoulder inflammation, making the injury even more concerning.

Johnson was in the midst of a breakout season, posting career-best numbers across the board. The fourth-year forward was averaging 18.9 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists per game while also contributing 1.6 steals and shooting 50% from the field and 31.2% from beyond the arc. His well-rounded game had placed him in elite company, as one of only five players this season averaging at least 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. The others? Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokić, Domantas Sabonis, and Alperen Şengün—an impressive group for the 22-year-old.

The Hawks had rewarded Johnson’s rapid development before the season with a five-year, $150 million contract extension. It was well-deserved after he took a massive leap in the 2023-24 season, averaging 16.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game. His increased production, coupled with an expanded role in the starting lineup (52 starts compared to just six in his first two years), signaled that Johnson was a core piece of Atlanta’s future.

The Impact of Johnson’s Absence

The Hawks, currently 22-25 and sitting at No. 9 in the Eastern Conference, are already feeling the effects of losing Johnson. In Tuesday’s 100-96 loss to the Houston Rockets, Atlanta struggled to find consistency on both ends of the floor. Advanced stats paint an even clearer picture of his value—Atlanta has been outscored by 8.5 points per 100 possessions in Johnson’s 987 minutes off the court this season.

With Johnson sidelined, the Hawks will lean more on their young core, which features star point guard Trae Young, defensive stalwart Dyson Daniels (who leads the NBA in steals), and rookie sensation Zaccharie Risacher. The No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft, Risacher is now expected to play a bigger role, as the team looks for scoring and playmaking in Johnson’s absence. Risacher, currently seventh on the team in scoring with 10.5 points per game, will need to step up significantly.

The silver lining? Risacher is gaining valuable experience in big moments, and his recent selection to the NBA’s Rising Stars event on Feb. 14 at All-Star Weekend in San Francisco shows he is on the right track. However, for Atlanta to remain competitive in the playoff race, they will need immediate production from him and their other young talents.

What’s Next for the Hawks?

The road ahead won’t be easy. The Eastern Conference is loaded with contenders, and without Johnson, Atlanta loses a key two-way contributor who was critical to their game plan. The Hawks will need to adjust their rotation, possibly looking for reinforcements via trade or increased minutes for their bench players.

As the team pushes forward, all eyes will be on Risacher, Young, and the rest of the roster to see if they can fill the massive void left by Johnson’s absence. Can the Hawks stay afloat in the playoff race without one of their rising stars? Time will tell, but one thing is certain—Jalen Johnson’s absence changes everything for Atlanta.