Jalen Johnson averaged 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.9 assists in 2025-26. Here is what would have to change for him to win MVP in 2026-27.
In 2025-26, Atlanta Hawks star Jalen Johnson was named to the All-NBA Third Team. Could he elevate to MVP status in 2026-27?
It won't be easy. Johnson will face stiff competition. The NBA is as talented as it's ever been. Perhaps it's a long shot.
But fans shouldn't rule it out.
Hawks' Jalen Johnson could compete for MVP
Let's look at Johnson's 2025-26 stats.
The point forward averaged 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game. He started all 72 games he appeared in and recorded 13 triple-doubles.
Those are some bulky numbers. If Johnson could get his scoring and/or assisting volume up just a notch, he'd be looking like a very serious MVP candidate.
The easiest fix there would be to increase his 3-point accuracy. Johnson shot 35.2% from beyond the arc in 2025-26, on 4.7 attempts per game. That's fine given the rest of his skill set, but even just a percentage or two higher would make him a league-average shooter. On top of being an elite playmaking wing and interior scorer, that could put him over the edge.
That said, there could be an even more important variable to consider here.
Hawks need to win more games for Johnson's MVP case
Surely, Johnson's MVP candidacy won't be the Hawks' primary impetus to win games. Still, it could work as an added incentive.
Last season, the Hawks were 26-30 going into the All-Star break. After the break, they went 20-6. Imagine if they maintained that level across an entire season?
Yes, that's a tall order. The Hawks' post-All-Star 76.9% winning percentage would have landed them second in the NBA over the entire season, behind only Oklahoma City's 64-18. The Hawks have a lot of talent, but if they're the second-best team in the NBA next year, they'll shatter preseason expectations.
Still, a top-five finish should not be out of the question. There's no reason to assume the Hawks' second act in 2025-26 was a fluke. Atlanta won the Southeast Division, finished sixth in the East at 46-36, and lost to the New York Knicks in six games in the first round.
Can that carry Johnson to an MVP win?
Johnson's MVP competition
It's a long shot.
It feels like Victor Wembanyama's award to lose. After him, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would like a word. Gilgeous-Alexander is the two-time reigning MVP and took 83 first-place votes in 2025-26, when he averaged 31.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 6.6 assists. Nikola Jokic finished second in the voting and Wembanyama third. Realistically, the list of guys whose odds are better than Johnson's is long enough to be annoying to list in its entirety here.
That said, every NBA season has surprises. Johnson winning MVP would be far from the most shocking event in league history. He's in the running, but he'll need to elevate his game — and more importantly, the Hawks — to win the award.
Otherwise, another All-NBA season will do. Johnson signed a five-year, $150 million extension with Atlanta on Oct. 21, 2024, and made $30 million in 2025-26.
