By our count, Jalen Johnson has 1,958 career rebounds, 42 short of 2,000, which is about five games away at this season's 9.0 a game. That projection assumes he plays, and he is listed with a left ankle injury ahead of Monday's game at Indiana.
The pace behind the projection
Johnson is pulling down 9.0 rebounds a game across seven games this season, so 42 more is roughly five games of work. That is a projection, and seven games is a thin base. He grabbed seven in 28 minutes at New Orleans, a night when he finished minus-20. If he plays all of the next five, the Lakers game on Nov. 9 is where 2,000 would land. One strong night on the glass against a short Indiana frontcourt would pull that date closer.
What the ankle listing has meant
Johnson was listed with a left ankle injury on Oct. 31, with an estimated return of Nov. 2, the day of the Pacers game. Our tracking since Oct. 20 shows 65 of 112 newly listed players around the league missed their team's next game, 58 percent. Atlanta's own record is one case, and that one player played. It is a sample of one, so treat it as a footnote. The league rate says the milestone clock could easily stall for a game or two.
A rotation with no spare parts
The Hawks have lost 214 minutes to injury since opening night, which ranks 23rd of 30 clubs, so they are not the league's most battered team. The cost still lands on a thin front line. Mouhamed Gueye, who played 15.3 minutes a game, and Henri Veesaar are both out. Jock Landale carries the same Nov. 2 estimate as Johnson. Asa Newell played center at New Orleans in the first game this season where Atlanta stretched its rotation. Indiana is 2-4 and has Tyrese Haliburton listed out, so this is a game Atlanta, now seventh at 3-4, can use. Watch Johnson's first-half minutes and his rebounds. Both will say more than the pregame report.
How close is Jalen Johnson to 2,000 career rebounds?
He has 1,958, so he needs 42. At his 9.0 a game this season, our projection puts him about five games away, provided he plays.
Is Jalen Johnson playing against the Pacers?
He is listed with a left ankle injury and an estimated return of Nov. 2, the date of the game at Indiana. His status for the game has not been confirmed.
