Atlanta Hawks sign Kobe Johnson after 2025 NBA Draft

Kobe Johnson spent four collegiate seasons playing out on the west coast, for two programs, in Los Angeles. He’ll now be headed east in the association with his signing coming after the NBA Draft.

The Atlanta Hawks signed Johnson last night following the 2025 NBA Draft. That comes per reporting by ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.

“NEWS: UCLA’s Kobe Johnson has agreed to a deal with the Atlanta Hawks, a source told ESPN,” Givony tweeted.

Johnson appeared in 125 games, 91 being starts over the past three years, while playing at USC and then at UCLA. He would average 7.5 points (43.5% FG, 33.9% 3PT), 4.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.7 steals per game in that career playing for both programs in Hollywood, including 7.9 points (46.4% FG, 36.2% 3PT on 1.1 makes), 5.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.6 steals in his lone year with the Bruins after transferring in the portal. He was best known for his defense, though, with three consecutive selections to All-Defense Teams with pair in the Pac-12 while at ‘SC and one then in the Big Ten with UCLA.

Johnson is a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He would play his high school basketball at Nicolet as part of the 2021 recruiting cycle.

What NBA Draft experts are saying about Johnson

On3’s James Fletcher noted the drop in production for Johnson, going down in scoring, assists, steals, and blocks, after transferring from USC to UCLA for this past season. However, he also mentioned the improvement in his three-point percentage up to his career-best mark of 36.2%. That slots him into a projection of the typical three-and-d(efensive) wing as he comes into the NBA.

“After transferring between rivals, Kobe Johnson saw a significant dip in his overall production on both ends of the floor. However, the defensive prospect did see a jump in his 3-point percentage to offset some of the concerns,” wrote Fletcher.