ATLANTA — Before the Atlanta Hawks and Denver Nuggets played Friday, Denver coach David Adelman described Atlanta forward Jalen Johnson as a “multi-time All-Star.”
It didn’t take Johnson long to show why.
The 23-year-old forward registered a triple-double in the first half with 11 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists as Atlanta ran out to a 19-point lead at the break. In doing so, Johnson became the sixth NBA player and first Atlanta Hawk to register a triple-double by halftime. The others: Russell Westbrook, Nikola Jokić, Luka Dončić, Domantas Sabonis and Kevin Johnson.
Come for the JJJam
Stay for pop’s reaction 😂 pic.twitter.com/Ur5mXX23Y0
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) December 6, 2025
Johnson’s triple-double came in 16 minutes and 44 seconds, making it the second-fastest triple-double in NBA history. Jokić achieved those stats in 14:33 in 2018.
Coincidentally, Johnson’s opponent on this night was Jokić, who came in averaging a triple-double, but ended the first half with just 10 points, five assists and four rebounds.
Unusually for a triple-double, Johnson eclipsed the assist milestone first and didn’t get the last two categories until a single play in the last 90 seconds of the first half. Johnson got an offensive rebound and missed the put-back but then regained possession and put in the layup to give him double figures in all three categories.
Before that, Johnson was dominating the game with sizzling passes. He sent a one-handed crosscourt dart to set up center Onyeka Okongwu for one corner 3, and whizzed an outlet pass just past a defender’s outstretched arms to set up guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker for a transition layup. His 12 dimes by halftime are already his second most of the season, eclipsed only by his 14 in a November win over the Utah Jazz. That game was also one of his two other triple-doubles this season.
The fifth-year Hawks forward is emerging as an All-Star-caliber player. Coming into this game, Johnson was averaging 23.2 points, 10.0 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game in leading the Hawks to a 13-10 record despite missing multi-time All-Star Trae Young for the majority of the season.
This story will be updated.
