The Atlanta Hawks have reached the NBA playoffs in each of the past three seasons, but extending this streak to four years may be a challenge. Currently, Atlanta holds a 22-25 record, placing them ninth in the Eastern Conference and three games ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers for the final playoff spot. Notably, they are just two games behind the six-seed Miami Heat, and pulling ahead of Miami would allow Atlanta to avoid the Play-In Tournament, a stage they have yet to experience.
Unsurprisingly, Trae Young leads the team in points and assists per game, but the development of forward Jalen Johnson has also been crucial for Atlanta this year. Unfortunately, Johnson will now be sidelined for the remainder of the season due to a torn labrum, as reported by NBA insider Chris Haynes on Wednesday.
Breaking: Atlanta Hawks young star Jalen Johnson has suffered a torn labrum in left shoulder and will miss rest of the season, league sources tell @ChrisBHaynes. #haynesbriefs https://t.co/AixmhuvbwY pic.twitter.com/mvBoPm2tBL
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 29, 2025
The injury occurred during a 122-119 loss to the Toronto Raptors late last week. Johnson was having a career-best season, averaging 18.9 points and 10 rebounds per game over 36 contests, making him one of the most reliable players on the roster with an average of 35.7 minutes per game, second only to Young.
As the trade deadline looms, Atlanta finds itself in a challenging position. Their 2025 first-round pick belongs to the San Antonio Spurs, limiting their options if they consider being sellers and tanking for the remainder of the season. However, the path to the playoffs will now be significantly more difficult.
