The Washington Wizards will land a star prospect within the 2025 NBA Draft in the event that they get fortunate within the lottery, however they have already got a participant who thinks he will be “The Man.” Rookie guard AJ Johnson has been a strolling spotlight reel just lately, and his 20-point sport in opposition to the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday was the height of that, for now.
The 20-year-old sounded off about his capabilities after the 115-112 loss.
“I consider I could be a celebrity one hundred pc on this league,” he stated. “I simply gotta work my tail off day by day, truthfully. It is gonna take an on a regular basis grind, doing all of the little issues. What I eat, what I watch, how I work is all gonna play into it.”
Johnson had a quiet night time till the fourth quarter, when he tallied 14 factors. The No. 23 total choose made his ultimate 4 photographs all throughout the final 3:05, considered one of them being this reverse baseline dunk over Trendon Watford that bought the house crowd roaring.
Johnson additionally hit a go-ahead three from the wing with 23 seconds left, which was Washington’s (16-58) ultimate bucket of the competition. The 6-foot-5-inch, 160-pounder took over on the finish of the sport regardless of enjoying your complete second half and 42 minutes in whole, exhibiting stamina on prime of his athleticism and clutchness. Head coach Brian Keefe joked that the younger participant will “want a nap [on Sunday],” however “he is a fearless child.”
For context, Johnson performed simply 45 whole minutes for the Milwaukee Bucks earlier than they traded him to the Wizards together with Khris Middleton for Kyle Kuzma on Feb. 5. The California native spent extra time within the G League, enjoying 25 video games for the Wisconsin Herd (Bucks’ affiliate) after which 5 for the Capital Metropolis Go-Go (Wizards’ affiliate) after the deal.
It initially appeared like Johnson could be extra of a undertaking than an instantaneous contributor, as he performed simply 7.7 minutes per sport for the NBL’s (Australian League’s) Illawarra Hawks final season, and Washington already had a number of different younger gamers on the roster. Nevertheless, with accidents piling up and the group prioritizing improvement over successful, it had nothing to lose by giving him constant minutes within the massive leagues.
That call has been rewarding, as Johnson has scored double digits in 4 of his final seven outings and is averaging 9.6 factors on 41.3 % capturing with 3.5 assists and a couple of.9 rebounds throughout 26.4 minutes in March. The NBL’s Subsequent Stars alum is already a helpful rotational piece regardless of his inexperience and has proven what he can do with prolonged enjoying time. His 20 factors on Saturday had been a profession excessive and tied with Colby Jones for probably the most on the workforce, whereas his 17 factors in Monday’s 112-104 loss to the Toronto Raptors led the Wizards’ bench.
Johnson additionally has 10 dunks in simply 14 video games with Washington, exhibiting explosiveness across the rim. If he develops a constant three-point shot besides, the Bucks could remorse buying and selling him. He shot 3-of-7 from deep on Monday, however simply 2-of-11 within the earlier three video games mixed and 28.3 % as a Wizard.
Johnson undoubtedly has room to develop, however that is pretty much as good of a begin a corporation may ask for from such a inexperienced participant.
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AJ Johnson displays on journey to Wizards
It is one factor for a younger athlete to have bodily expertise, however success relies upon simply as a lot on their thoughts, if no more. It is a good signal that Johnson emphasised consideration to particulars equivalent to his weight loss program and film-watching, however he is additionally grateful for his journey thus far.
AJ Johnson, who’s now making a huge impact on the Wizards after enjoying solely 45 minutes for the Bucks to begin his profession, stated that his journey “has been a blessing” and credit his focus for serving to him get so far. pic.twitter.com/DNTghql14D
— Joshua Valdez (@joshvaldez100) March 30, 2025
“Being right here, getting minutes within the NBA and competing versus high-level gamers has positively given me the time to replicate and simply see how far I’ve come,” he continued post-game. “My journey hasn’t been the best, however I’ve simply stayed centered and stored going, so I took a while to replicate. Undoubtedly a blessing.”
Johnson’s previous few years have been a whirlwind. The combo guard began his highschool profession in Fresno earlier than hitting a progress spurt and rising as a prime nationwide recruit at Taft Excessive College in Woodland Hills, California, over the following couple of years. He then transferred to Kanye West’s Donda Academy for his senior 12 months however completed at Southern California Academy after Donda closed.
Johnson, who was rated a five-star prospect by Rivals and a four-star by 247Sports and ESPN, dedicated to Texas basketball over Louisville, USC, LSU, the NBL, and G League Ignite on Nov. 21, 2022. Nevertheless, he decommitted on April 13, 2023, and introduced his resolution to play in Australia.
The Bucks then drafted Johnson final summer season regardless of his sparse enjoying time with Illawarra, as his athleticism and explosiveness made him a worthy developmental piece. Nevertheless, it looks as if Milwaukee, and probably your complete NBA, underestimated the high-flying slasher’s potential.