Jalen Johnson did not try to dress up the Atlanta Hawks’ season-ending loss to the New York Knicks, calling the moment exactly what it felt like after a 140-89 defeat in Game 6 at State Farm Arena.
“Obviously the loss is still fresh and definitely proud of this group,” Johnson said. “This is a learning experience for us. We’re growing. We’re going to grow from this. We’re going to definitely be better from it.”
The Knicks controlled the game from the opening minutes and built a lead that reached as high as 61 points, turning the contest into one of the most lopsided playoff losses in recent memory.
Johnson acknowledged how difficult it was to connect the Hawks’ overall season success with the way it ended. “Obviously it’s kind of tough to take a look at all those things right now,” he said. “But proud of this group and proud of everything we were able to do.”
Atlanta finished the regular season with 46 wins and earned the Southeast Division title, but the postseason exposed the gap between consistency and playoff execution.
For Johnson, the series was also his first real experience as a central figure in a postseason run. “Fine,” he said when asked about his emotions during the series. “Obviously there are ups and downs emotionally and just figuring out how to navigate those and continue to stay present.”
He emphasized that the experience will shape his offseason preparation. “There’s a lot of things that I’m going to take back this summer and definitely dive into more,” Johnson said. “Just like every year, I continue to work on my game, continue to come back with something new.”
Atlanta struggled to match New York’s physical intensity throughout the series, a point Johnson also recognized. “That was it,” he said. “It was just an intensity. They ramped up and we were unable to match it.”
The Knicks’ ability to apply pressure defensively limited Johnson’s effectiveness across the series, forcing turnovers and contested possessions that disrupted Atlanta’s rhythm.
Despite the frustration, Johnson pointed to the foundation the team built during the regular season. “I think we did a great job just laying the foundation of what we’re about, who we are as a group,” he said. “Just continue to learn from this series, learn from everything about it, the good and the bad.”
He also addressed the halftime deficit in Game 6, where Atlanta trailed by 47 points. “I don’t really have any words for that,” Johnson said. “It’s obviously disappointing, obviously sucks. It was just a tough position to be in.”
Looking ahead, Johnson framed the offseason as a continuation of growth rather than a reset. “Everybody has the same mindset of just trying to get better,” he said. “I’m excited about what’s to come.”
