Bleacher Report projects Hawks star Jalen Johnson as the NBA's 18th-best player by 2030. Here's why that ranking might be conservative.
The Atlanta Hawks are lucky to have a franchise player in Jalen Johnson.
What is a franchise player? Generally, it's a guy who has a strong chance to be a top 20 player in the NBA. Obviously, you'd prefer your guy to crack the top 10, but that's easier said than done. If you're one of the 20 or so best players in the league, a team can build a title contender around your skills if they're smart.
Johnson has a relatively easy path to that status. In fact, he was recently predicted to be a top 20 player in the league by 2030. Bleacher Report thinks he'll be the 18th-best player in the NBA in four years.
Is that a realistic projection?
Hawks' Jalen Johnson has endless potential
Let's be clear: This is no small designation.
The Oklahoma City Thunder's Chet Holmgren landed 20th. The Portland Trail Blazers' Deni Avdija ranked 19th. So, some players who have already racked up accomplishments are being ranked behind Johnson. This should be considered a vote of confidence.
That's not to say Johnson hasn't earned it. Johnson averaged 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game. He had a 4.2 Box Plus/Minus (BPM). Johnson isn't a case of raw potential: He's already an NBA star.
Still, there's room for improvement. Johnson shot 35.2% from three-point range in 2025-26. That's a fine mark given his playmaking ability, but if he could up his efficiency, he could even clipse that 18th overall mark.
Yet, even if he doesn't, he's a franchise-caliber star.
Hawks' Jalen Johnson is the organization's future
The only question is how high Johnson can climb.
The answer is largely unknown. The two players immediately ahead of Johnson on this list are Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton. They'll be 33 and 30 by the time 2030 rolls around. Dylan Harper is 15th, and he'll be just 24.
There's a very realistic chance that Johnson is better than Harper - and vice versa. You've got to go as high as fifth, where Anthony Edwards (who will be 28 in 2030) sits, to find a player who it's highly unlikely that Johnson will surpass.
On the other hand, it's possible that a second-round pick who's not even on these radars will eclipse Johnson. The NBA is a wildly unpredictable place. All we can say with confidence is that the Hawks have a future star. Johnson is their franchise player:
How lucky are the Hawks to be able to say that?
