Tre Johnson gave the Wizards exactly the kind of answer they were hoping to see Thursday night.
With Washington opening Summer League against the Utah Jazz, most of the attention naturally drifted to the headliners at the top of the draft. No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa and No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson both led their teams in scoring, and Dybantsa added the kind of highlight that travels fast - a thunderous poster dunk in his debut that made his “fills seats” line look pretty sharp.
But the biggest development for the Wizards came from someone already in the building.
Johnson, the second-year guard, put up 26 points in a close win over Utah and looked in control from the opening minutes. At times, the game seemed to move at his pace, not the other way around. For a player whose rookie season didn’t end with an All-Rookie team nod, that mattered.
It also mattered because Johnson had been a talking point in Wizards circles before last summer’s showcase, when he turned in a strong Summer League run and built real buzz. That excitement cooled after a rookie year that left plenty of fans wanting more. On Thursday, he reminded everyone why he went in the top 10 of the 2025 draft.
What stood out most was how calm he looked against the Jazz defense. He never seemed sped up, even when pressure came his way.
He slipped out of a double team and drove to the rim to draw a foul. He kept leaning on a smooth midrange game that kept producing clean looks.
More than anything, he kept finding his spots whenever he wanted them.
Washington still has plenty of Summer League ahead, but in the first game with the basketball world watching, Johnson looked like a player who has taken a real step forward.
In Other News...
Anthony Davis Just Sent Wizards Fans A New Reason To Wonder
Anthony Davis trip to Las Vegas for Summer League gave Wizards fans something to chew on beyond the usual offseason noise. He was there supporting Washington, and he was spotted around teammates and other veterans, a small but notable show of presence at a time when every public appearance gets read like a clue.
The timing matters because Davis future has been the subject of plenty of chatter, even as extension conversations are reportedly in motion. Washington has reason to feel encouraged by the attention he paid to the team in Las Vegas, but until anything is signed, the uncertainty around his status will keep hanging over the Wizards summer. [Read more 🡒]
AJ Dybantsas Wizards Debut Confirmed He Looks Ready Right Now
AJ Dybantsas first game in a Wizards uniform gave the franchise exactly the kind of jolt it hoped for from a top rookie. He put up 27 points, seven rebounds and two assists on 7-for-18 shooting, and the box score only told part of the story. His length and burst showed up on both ends, with two steals and a block adding to a debut that looked more like a player trying to announce himself than one easing into the league.
What stood out most was how often he created obvious momentum swings, including a few highlight-level plays that had the building reacting quickly. For Washington, the bigger takeaway is less about one strong night and more about what it hinted at going forward: if this is the baseline, Dybantsa may already be the kind of rookie who changes the conversation around the team before the season gets very far. [Read more 🡒]