"Hawks having two dudes in this race is sick" - NBA fans erupt over Jalen Johnson leading MIP race with big snubs on list

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson has been leading the Most Improved Player race this season. According to Bovada, Johnson is the frontrunner for the coveted award after becoming a key cog for the Hawks this year as he averages a double-double for the Eastern Conference’s fifth-seed Hawks.

Johnson is averaging 19.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.1 blocks this season. He is also shooting 50.9 percent from the field, 33.1 percent from the three-point line on about four attempts per game, and 74.8 percent from the free-throw line.

The six-foot-eight versatile forward has been doing it all for the Hawks, but fans aired their sentiments on the MIP race, which also included Miami Heat’s Tyler Herro, OKC Thunder’s Jalen Williams, Detroit Pistons’ Cade Cunningham, Hawks’ Dyson Daniels, and LA Clippers’ Norman Powell.

“Hawks having two dudes in this race is sick,” one fan said.

"Would be Deserved he’s been awesome this year," said one fan.

“He’s been showing significant growth in his game, making a strong case for the award,” a fan also wrote.

Meanwhile, other fans thought differently about the MIP race. They stated other players should be in the lead instead of Johnson. Most of the fans suggested Clippers’ Norman Powell, who has taken the starting role while superstar Kawhi Leonard recovers from his injury.

“People like Jalen, herro, j Williams, Cade should not be listed under most improved. Dudes like Daniel’s and Powell represent more of a most improved to me,” one fan said.

“Nah man it’s actually Norman Powell and it’s not even close,” another fan wrote.

“Killing it this year. But Norman Powell should be higher,” said one fan.

Clippers’ Powell has been averaging 24.3 points per game this year, over 10 points better than his scoring average last year. Johnson, meanwhile, has added over three points, one rebound, and two assists to his averages this season after taking a bigger role with the Hawks.

Jalen Johnson receives praise from NBA head coach

Jalen Johnson has been receiving praise from various NBA personalities for his improvement this season. Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers was one of those who complimented the Hawks’ forward’s growth this year.

Earlier this month, Rivers compared Johnson to former MIP winner Giannis Antetokounmpo, who also grew his role in his team throughout the years.

“We play against that every day in practice. That’s Giannis in a lot of ways… Jalen has improved his decision-making at a rapid pace. He’s gone from a rookie quarterback to a veteran quarterback.”

The Hawks have been patient with Johnson since drafting him in 2021. He even played in the G-League to make him more ready for the team’s envisioned role for him. Now, he starts as the power forward for Atlanta, who has also been winning games, led by Trae Young.