Snyder’s unwavering belief ignited Jalen Johnson's breakthrough, transforming him into a central force and legitimate All-Star candidate with elite all-around play.
Jalen Johnson’s ascent into one of the NBA’s most improved players traces back to a coach who told him he could be more than a complementary piece.
Johnson has become a central force for the Hawks this season, averaging 22.3 points, 9.6 rebounds and 6.6 assists in 14 games. His rise has placed him firmly in the Most Improved Player race and elevated him into legitimate All-Star consideration as he carries Atlanta through Trae Young’s absence.
But Johnson says none of this momentum would exist without the arrival of head coach Quin Snyder, whose timing and approach reshaped the early course of his career.
Johnson explained that shift by recalling how Snyder’s confidence unlocked a version of himself he struggled to access during his first two seasons.
“Quin was really that guy that believed in me,” Johnson told Andscape.
He said Snyder didn’t just offer encouragement — he demanded accountability and insisted that Johnson play with freedom, aggression and trust in his instincts.
“I don’t see none of this happening without Quin giving me that freedom to be myself,” Johnson said.
Snyder said what stood out to him from the beginning was Johnson’s desire to be special, even before he fully understood how to reach that level.
“There’s a big part of him that wants to be really, really good,” Snyder said.
Before Snyder arrived in February 2023, Johnson’s career had drifted. A G League assignment as a rookie frustrated him. A modest jump to 5.5 points per game in his second season left him overlooked and largely unproven. Even as a first-round pick, he had yet to carve out a stable role or direction.
Johnson said those early struggles tested his belief, and he leaned heavily on his support system to avoid letting disappointment define him.
His fortunes shifted as soon as Snyder restructured his path. Johnson finished the 2022–23 season with his best stretch yet, then delivered a full breakout during Atlanta’s 2023–24 campaign before a torn labrum halted his run. His play nonetheless earned him a five-year, $150 million contract extension in October 2024 — a statement of belief that paralleled Snyder’s guidance.
Even during rehabilitation from shoulder surgery, Johnson said Snyder was among the voices that kept him grounded and confident that his momentum hadn’t been lost.
“Quin was a big part of that, too, just reassuring me everything’s going to be OK,” Johnson said.
Johnson has validated that confidence immediately this season, producing at an elite all-around level and embracing a larger leadership role with Young sidelined. His scoring efficiency, rebounding presence and expanded playmaking responsibilities have cemented him as Atlanta’s stabilizing force — and one of the league’s fastest-rising stars.
Johnson said the through line from his G League stint to this season is the reminder that the work matters only when paired with belief, both internal and external.
“You start slowly seeing yourself progress forward and make small steps,” Johnson said. “All that stuff takes care of itself.”
Snyder’s belief helped accelerate that process. Johnson’s production is now making it impossible for the league to overlook.