One NBA executive told Hawks Roundtable that Jalen Johnson could be a consistent jumper away from becoming a superstar.
The Atlanta Hawks are putting a lot of belief in rising star Jalen Johnson.
Their trade sending former franchise cornerstone Trae Young to the Washington Wizards last season cleared the way for Johnson to be their new centerpiece, and this summer, they've continued to build around him.
Johnson is already an All-Star and All-NBA Third Team selectee after checking both of those boxes last season. But if he can add a consistent jumper to his game, one NBA executive thinks the 24-year-old could reach even greater heights.
"Jalen has so much untapped potential," the NBA exec told Hawks Roundtable. "If he ever gets a consistent jumper, look out. Atlanta might have a superstar. He's that good without a jumper. With a jump shot, he could be a top-10 player in this league."
Johnson has steadily improved since coming into the NBA as the No. 20 overall pick in 2021. His perimeter shooting has also come a long way, though he hasn't quite reached a threshold where he'd be considered a dangerous shooter.
Over his first two NBA seasons, he shot just 28.2 percent from beyond the arc and didn't take those shots very often. Over his last three seasons, he has made 34.5 percent of his triples while gradually ramping up the volume. That's a big difference, even though he still has some work to do.
His free-throw percentage (sometimes an indicator of a player's shooting ability) has also improved over the years, leading to a career-best clip of 78.8 percent in the 2025-26 season.
Overall last season, Johnson averaged 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game while shooting 48.9 percent from the field and 35.2 percent from long range.
His efforts helped the Hawks snag a playoff bid in the Eastern Conference after a very strong finish to the regular season. In the first round of the playoffs, Atlanta fell to the eventual NBA champion New York Knicks, but not without putting up a fight. The Hawks were the only team in the playoffs to push the Knicks to six games.
Atlanta has been praised for its offseason, with ESPN analyst Zach Kram noting that the team significantly raised its floor by upgrading its bench. Kram, however, also argued that the team's short-term ceiling is dependent on how far Johnson's development goes.
The NBA executive from earlier who praised Johnson's potential also said that the Hawks have had a great offseason, calling the team's wing additions "huge."
Atlanta is going to be a team to watch in a loaded Eastern Conference this season. If the team hopes to challenge some of the top contenders, Johnson's growth will be key, and his jumper will be one area to watch.
