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LeBron James believes Jalen Johnson can be a "Scottie Pippen type of player" in the NBA
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- LeBron James believes Jalen Johnson can be a "Scottie Pippen type of player" in the NBA
In his 23rd season in the NBA, LeBron James has seen it all, including players with varying skills, sizes, and talents. From one-hit wonders to longtime superstars, the King has been privy to the evolution of the league and its players. So, when he says someone has the potential to be a "Scottie Pippen"-type player, it's worth paying attention.
Jalen Johnson , the Atlanta Hawks ' fifth-year pro, caught LeBron's eye with his impressive play over the last three seasons. This season, the 6'8" forward has taken the reins of the Hawks with his exceptional all-around play in which he's averaging 23.7 points, 10.4 rebounds and 8.4 assists per game.
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Jalen has made the most of his opportunity
With superstar guard Trae Young hampered by injuries this season (he's played in only 10 games), Johnson has made the most of the opportunity, showcasing the depth of his skills and notching 25 double-doubles and seven triple-doubles. Jalen's terrific play has caught LeBron's attention, who sees a bit of Chicago Bulls legend in the young forward's game.
"I mentioned Scottie Pippen, man. And obviously, he has a long way to go. But as far as the talent, you look at a guy with long arms, 6'9 ", 6'10", runs like a deer, super athletic. He's improved his outside touch," Bron assessed .
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"But like you said, putting pressure on the rim, his ability to rebound, he can guard. He can guard one through five, you know, for the majority of ones and fives," he continued. "And his playmaking — I see that he's going to continue to improve."
Truth be told, every player in the league holds a lot of potential. Unfortunately, with the amount of talent every team has, there's only so much playing time to go around. But with Young's extended absence, Johnson has taken off and hasn't looked back.
"One thing about our league is it's all about confidence and opportunity. Once you take advantage of that opportunity and your confidence continues to grow, you start to feel like, 'I can do this every night,'" LeBron stated. "It's not always going to be a triple-double. It's not always going to be 15 assists. But you start to understand the nuances of the game, making the right play and things of that nature."
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Unlimited ceiling
Only 24, Johnson has barely scratched the surface of his potential. And James expressed that while he doesn't know what his ceiling is, it's essentially unlimited at this point. Bron also said that Jalen is essentially locked in as an All-Star this season, especially given how he has kept the Hawks in the fight for a postseason berth despite the absence of Trae.
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"I love his ceiling. I don't know what his ceiling is, but I know it's not low. I think it's very high, and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens. I think he's on pace to be an All-Star in the East this year for sure. There's no doubt about it," LeBron noted. "I think he's playing at an All-Star level."
The Hawks' willingness to part ways with Trae at this juncture says a lot about the trust they have in Jalen. And given how he has improved his play in each of the last three seasons, it's easy to see why they have such high hopes for him.
Related: Trae Young gave ultimate praise to Jalen Johnson, who is carrying Atlanta by himself
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jan 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
