The Atlanta Hawks have signed forward Jalen Johnson to a contract extension, which begins with the 2025-26 season, the team announced Monday.
According to Shams Charania, it’s a five-year, $150 million rookie contract extension. The deadline for rookie contract extensions for the 2021 draft class was Monday at 6 PM ET.
“Jalen Johnson embodies the characteristics we look for as an organization, both on and off the court,” Hawks General Manager Landry Fields said in a press release. “He has shown continuous improvement each year and has the character and the work ethic to continue to grow his game. He has developed into a significant part of our team and we’re thrilled to continue his development in Atlanta.”
In 56 games played during the 2023-24 season, Johnson averaged career highs in points per game (16.0), rebounds per game (8.7), assists per game (3.6), steals per game (1.2), blocks per game (0.8), minutes per game (33.7), three-point percentage (.355) and free throw percentage (.728), while shooting .511 from the field. He was one of only four players in the NBA last season to average at least 16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.0 steal on .500/.300/.700 shooting splits, joining Nikola Jokic, Bam Adebayo, and Joel Embiid.
From 2022-23 to 2023-24, Johnson improved his scoring by +10.4 points per game (5.6 to 16.0) and rebounding by +4.7 boards per game (4.0 to 8.7). Per Elias Sports, he is the first player in the NBA to improve scoring by at least 10.0 points per game and rebounding by at least 4.0 rebounds per game from the previous season.
The 6-9 forward recorded eight games of at least 15 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists last season, the most such games in a single season by a Hawk since Josh Smith in 2012-13 (15).
In 148 games (58 starts) in his three NBA seasons, Johnson owns career averages of 9.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 20.6 minutes (.506 FG%, .328 3FG%, .694 FT%).
Johnson and the Hawks begin the regular season on Wednesday at home against the Nets.
