Part of the Hawks’ early season success has been health — the top eight players in Quin Snyder’s rotation haven’t missed time (only Trae Young missed a game, and it was just one). That is about to change.
Breakout star Jalen Johnson will be sidelined for 4-6 weeks due to a left wrist injury, a story broken by Shams Charania of The Athletic. While not good news, it looked like it could be worse at the time and Charania reports no surgery is required.
Best-case scenario for Johnson after completing imaging on his left wrist since suffering the injury Saturday night in Washington. The 6-foot-8 product has emerged as a two-way force for Atlanta in his third NBA season. https://t.co/zzxFIBTpKc
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 26, 2023
The injury occurred on a hard foul from Kyle Kuzma in the second quarter Saturday night as the Hawks became the latest team to cruise past the Wizards. Johnson stayed in to take the free throws, the second one without using his left hand, then left the game not to return.
Johnson has been having a breakout year in his third NBA season, forcing Snyder to start him. Johnson has averaged 14.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in more than 30 minutes a night while shooting 42.1% from 3, and he’s a plus defender. It’s early, but his name has to come up in any Most Improved Player conversation. Atlanta will miss him as he is now out until around Christmas at the earliest and very likely into January.
Look for De’Andre Hunter, Saddiq Beyand, and AJ Griffin all to get a little more run with Johnson out.