Blue Devil Country

Ex-Duke Basketball Player Suffers Untimely Injury in Breakout Season

Former Duke basketball forward Jalen Johnson was off to a blazing start in his third Hawks campaign.

Matt Giles

Former Duke basketball forward Jalen Johnson (Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports)
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Jalen Johnson, a former five-star recruit who left the 2020-21 Duke basketball team midseason to work on his game back home in Wisconsin, has looked like a top NBA Most Improved Player candidate this year for the Atlanta Hawks.

Through Johnson's 15 games thus far, the 21-year-old forward has almost tripled his scoring average from last go-round. He's putting up 14.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.0 blocks per outing while shooting 59.4 percent from the field and 42.5 percent beyond the arc.

But during Atlanta's 136-108 road win over the Washington Wizards on Saturday, Jalen Johnson, who went No. 20 overall to the Hawks at the 2021 NBA Draft, sustained a wrist injury that will keep him out of commission for the next four to six weeks, according to a report on Sunday from The Athletic's Shams Charania. Unfortunate.

The Hawks, whose head coach is 57-year-old Duke basketball alum Quin Snyder, now in his second year at the helm in Atlanta, boast an 8-8 record this season.

Their other Blue Devil, 2021-22 one-and-done forward AJ Griffin, sees limited minutes off the bench, averaging only 3.3 points, 0.6 assists, and 8.1 minutes per game across nine appearances.

On Sunday evening, they fell on the road to the Eastern Conference-leading Boston Celtics and former Blue Devil sensation Jayson Tatum. They return to action when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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