A 2-1 series lead for the Atlanta Hawks over the New York Knicks ranks as one of the biggest shocks of the NBA playoffs so far. It also serves as a painful reminder of the Golden State Warriors’ disastrous draft period five years ago.
Hawks star Jalen Johnson delivered a stunning one-point victory for Atlanta in Game 3 on Thursday, pouring in 24 points along with 10 rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and a block in the 109-108 win. His all-around dominance helped the Hawks seize control of the first-round series against a favored Knicks team.
For Warriors fans, the performance hits especially hard. Golden State could have selected Johnson with one of their lottery picks in the 2021 NBA Draft. While debates have long swirled around the team’s pair of top-10 selections in 2020 and 2021, missing on Johnson with their third lottery pick from that era now stands as one of the most glaring regrets.
The frustration runs deeper because the Warriors had Johnson squarely on their radar. As Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area reported in July 2021, the forward was one of just four prospects invited to a private dinner and organized workout with Golden State only two weeks before the draft. The other three included Kai Jones, Davion Mitchell, and Moses Moody—the player the Warriors ultimately chose with their No. 14 overall pick that night.
Johnson, a Milwaukee native, carried extra intrigue for the Warriors. The franchise had successfully drafted players from the area before, including Kevon Looney in 2015 and Jordan Poole in 2019. They even continued the trend later by selecting another Milwaukee product, Brandin Podziemski, in 2023.
Instead, Golden State passed on Johnson, who slipped to the Atlanta Hawks at No. 20 overall. Moody has developed into a solid rotation piece for the Warriors. He enjoyed a career-best season before a torn patellar tendon prematurely ended his campaign. Yet it is impossible not to wonder what might have been had the front office swung on the more dynamic wing who went six picks later.
Johnson has improved dramatically in each of his first five NBA seasons. This year, he earned his first All-Star nod while averaging career highs of 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.9 assists across 72 games. Following the midseason trade that sent Trae Young to the Washington Wizards, Johnson has emerged as the clear new face of the Atlanta franchise.
Whether Johnson would have thrived in Golden State’s system remains an open question. Some wonder if he might have followed a similar path to Jonathan Kuminga—a raw, athletic forward who has struggled for consistent opportunity amid the Warriors’ veteran-heavy roster and championship contention window.
The irony stings for Golden State. As Johnson and Kuminga help power the Hawks’ surprising playoff run, the Warriors’ aging core sits at home after missing the postseason entirely. The team that once built a dynasty through sharp drafting now watches two promising young forwards it once had eyes on—or actually drafted—flourish elsewhere.
This latest Hawks stunner does more than just shift the Eastern Conference playoff narrative. It amplifies the “what if” conversations that have haunted the Warriors’ front office for years. In the high-stakes world of NBA drafting, a six-pick difference can separate a role player from a potential franchise cornerstone.
For now, Jalen Johnson is writing his own story in Atlanta—one filled with highlight-reel plays and playoff momentum. Back in the Bay Area, the echoes of that 2021 draft night are roaring louder than ever.