Jalen Johnson's breakout season earns him significant All-Star votes, positioning the young Hawks star for a potential nod amid team struggles.
The Atlanta Hawks are beginning to prepare for life without Trae Young, but the organization seems to be okay with handing over the reins to 24-year-old power forward Jalen Johnson.
With Young missing a significant portion of the season, Atlanta has been forced to adjust its offensive structure on the fly. In that stretch, Johnson has taken on expanded ball-handling and playmaking duties, often initiating offense and serving as a connective hub rather than simply a finisher. The results have been encouraging on an individual level, even as team success has lagged.
The Hawks have dropped nine of their last 11 games, including the last five without Young, underscoring the growing pains that come with a shifting hierarchy and a still-evolving roster.
Despite the team’s struggles, Johnson’s emergence has not gone unnoticed around the league or among fans. His all-around production and expanded role have translated into strong support in the latest All-Star voting returns.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Johnson currently ranks eighth among Eastern Conference frontcourt players, having received more than 525,000 fan votes. That placement situates him firmly in the All-Star conversation as voting enters its later stages.
Johnson’s statistical profile reflects the leap he has taken this season. He is averaging 24 points per game while also contributing double-digit rebounds and more than eight assists per contest, production that highlights both his versatility and his growing comfort as a primary decision-maker. Hawks fans saw flashes of this trajectory last year before Johnson’s season was cut short by shoulder surgery, making this campaign feel like a continuation rather than a surprise breakout.
As expected, the top tier of Eastern Conference vote-getters is populated by established stars such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jalen Brunson, and Cade Cunningham. That context matters, as fan voting alone determines starters, while coaches around the league select the reserves.
With 18 players named to each conference’s All-Star roster, Johnson remains well-positioned, though his ultimate selection will likely hinge on how coaches evaluate his impact relative to Atlanta’s overall record.
Now in his fifth NBA season, Johnson continues to check important developmental boxes. The former first-round pick out of Duke University is posting career highs across multiple efficiency and volume categories, including points, assists, rebounds, field-goal percentage, and three-point shooting. For Atlanta, that growth provides a measure of optimism amid an otherwise uneven season.
The NBA All-Star Game is scheduled for Sunday, February 15, 2026, airing on NBC and Peacock. Until then, Hawks supporters can continue to make their voices heard through online voting, with the hope that Johnson’s expanded role, consistent production, and upward trajectory earn him the first All-Star selection of his career.