Atlanta Hawks star Forward Jalen Johnson is scheduled to undergo season-ending surgery for a left shoulder injury. Johnson, 23, will have a season-ending injury to repair an injury to his left shoulder, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Wednesday. Charania’s confirmation of the devastating news affects the Hawks fanbase and the organization itself as the Hawks’ efforts have been stagnant in recent weeks.
Their record is a subpar 22-25, as the Hawks lost six straight games and fell to ninth place in the Eastern Conference. Johnson sustained a left shoulder injury in a game against the Toronto Raptors on January 23, 2025. Johnson blocked a layup attempt by Toronto Small Forward Scottie Barnes. Johnson has missed three straight games since the injury. Read on for further details.
Jalen Johnson’s Season-Ending Injury
Jalen Johnson’s season-ending surgery is a significant blow for a struggling Atlanta Hawks team. The Hawks have been dormant as winners of just three of their last 10 games. Johnson’s surgery was a painful reminder for the Hawks, who witnessed his previous six-game absence because of right shoulder inflammation before suffering a left shoulder injury.
Charania announced Johnson’s surgery on X on Wednesday morning. Charania wrote, “Atlanta Hawks’ Jalen Johnson will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a shoulder injury, sources tell ESPN. Johnson has averaged 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists for the Hawks this season.” Charania’s announcement was disheartening for those associated with the Hawks, or simply find Johnson a fun player to watch.
Johnson’s Stats With Atlanta
Jalen Johnson’s stats for the Atlanta Hawks can be described as impressive. Johnson has been averaging 18.9 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists per game while shooting 50% from the field and 31.2% from the three-point line this season. Johnson’s current averages are career-highs, with Johnson leading the Hawks in assists with five per game.
Johnson’s career averages are 11 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 50.4% from the field and 32.3% from three. The lack of Johnson’s presence has affected the Hawks in recent days. The Hawks dropped a 100-96 decision to the Houston Rockets at State Farm Arena on Tuesday night. With the loss, Atlanta fell to 22-25. With the win, Houston improved to 32-14 and stays in second place in the Western Conference.
Atlanta’s Next Steps
The Atlanta Hawks’ next steps would be to tread water without Jalen Johnson, but this will be easier said than done. Johnson is best known for his defense, versatility, and playmaking ability, and can guard multiple positions on the court. Johnson can also hang out in the passing lanes and block shots from all directions. Johnson’s defensive skills were showcased against veteran NBA stars such as Draymond Green, Kawhi Leonard, etc.
The Hawks will open a three-game Eastern Conference road trip starting with a Thursday night game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. The Eastern Conference-leading Cavaliers led the Eastern Conference’s teams with a 37-9 record entering Wednesday night’s game against the Miami Heat at the Kaseya Center scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Eastern.
