A trait in Jaylen Johnson that Kristaps Porzingis loves

Jalen Johnson has transformed into an All-Star caliber player this season for Atlanta Hawksand he does everything for them. The forward is averaging 23.7 points, 10.3 rebounds and 8.4 assists, and has tried to keep the Hawks afloat for most of this season despite several injuries to some key players.

Kristaps Porzingis is one of those players who has been in and out of the lineup for the Hawks, but when he steps on the court, he makes it look easy. The reason for that is his chemistry with Johnson, as the two have built a solid rapport to bring the Hawks something easy. The one thing Porzingis likes about Johnson is his playing ability.

“It’s super easy to play with Jalen,” Porzingis said after the game. “He’s a super underrated passer and the way he can get out in transition, there’s not a lot of players like him. And then obviously just playing off each other. Understanding where he likes to get the ball and how he likes to attack, and vice versa. He’s really good.”

Johnson shared the same sentiments about Porzingis and is glad the big man was able to get back on the court.

“It’s always easy to play with KP,” Johnson said. “He’s just a big man who can do so much on the court on both ends of the floor. I know he’s excited to be back. It just brings a different dynamic to our group that I think everyone is looking forward to.”

Porzingis brings a different dynamic to the court for the Hawks with his ability to stretch the floor while also changing shots at the rim. Hopefully, he can continue his streak so that the Hawks can grab a spot in the Eastern Conference standings, as they currently sit in 10th place.

Kristaps Porzingis is working on staying healthy

Porzingis has missed time this season due to an illness that some suspect is POTS, which kept him out late last year with the Boston Celtics. After a recent game, Porzingis shared how he’s feeling right now and what he’s doing to get back in shape.

“I feel pretty good, I’m getting back into really good shape, but honestly (there are) positive signs from the first games and now we’re just spending time getting more minutes,” Porzingis said.

Although it’s a small sample size, the Hawks have played pretty well this season when Porzingis is on the floor. He also adds depth to the frontcourt, as Onieka Okongwu has had to play a lot of minutes this season with him out. If Porzingis can continue to stay healthy and build chemistry with his teammates, such as Johnson, the Hawks should be able to win more games.