Hawks forward Jalen Johnson will miss the remainder of the season because of a torn labrum in his left shoulder, the team announced Wednesday.
The Hawks also said that Johnson will have surgery next week at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex, performed by Dr. Kyle Hammond.
Johnson has averaged 18.9 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, 1.6 steals and one block per game this season.
His injury to the Hawks comes as a huge blow because of impact on the team on both ends of the floor.
Johnson has built himself into the team’s second-best scorer because of his efficiency around the rim. He also has been instrumental in setting the fast pace that the Hawks want to play with because he can push the ball out in transition after they get stops.
The Hawks have struggled in Johnson’s absence, as they have averaged 7.5 points more per game with the forward on the floor than off. Also, they’ve allowed 4.9 points fewer when Johnson plays in the lineup.
He missed six games with a right shoulder injury four games before he abruptly left Thursday’s game against the Raptors.
The Hawks are in the midst of a six-game slide, and Johnson’s injury further compounds the tough stretch they have ahead of them.
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