Tre Johnson was a superstar for Texas basketball, but what does he bring to a professional squad?
Johnson, who was selected 6th overall by the Washington Wizards in the 2025 NBA Draft, led the Longhorns to the First Four of the NCAA Tournament while averaging 19.9 points, 2.8 assists and 3.3 rebounds a game. He was the go-to guy at all times for former head coach Rodney Terry, and his scoring was often the difference between Texas winning or losing.
That is the number one thing Johnson brings to Washington: his scoring. Johnson is a pure bucket-getter in the half-court and a constant transition threat. He was a historically good volume three-point shooter, making 40% of his seven attempts per game. Johnson excelled at creating his own shot off the dribble but was even better as a movement shooter off the ball.
Advertisement
All of this will translate to the next level and give him immediate value to Washington.
Johnson’s playmaking flashed promise but definitely needs work. He can collapse the defense on drives and hit the open man, but he has a clear score-first mindset that is unlikely to change. He could develop into a more willing passer, but he is unlikely to turn into a true lead guard. This limits his ability to get on the court for the Wizards, as he can only slot in as a two-guard.
Johnson was a poor defender at Texas, logging a defensive rating of 109.9, the third-worst among first-round picks. He has upside on that end due to his 6-foot-10 wingspan. That length, combined with his athleticism, led to the occasional positive defensive play. Still, more often than not, Johnson lacks the proper spatial awareness or mental focus to be a plus defender. He will likely get targeted on defense early in his NBA career.
Johnson is unlikely to steal a starting spot from incumbent point guard Bub Carrington and veteran off-guard CJ McCollum, whom the Wizards traded for this offseason, but Johnson should be in serious contention for the sixth-man role. His combination of solid, if not basic, playmaking, three-point marksmanship and lackluster defense fit him squarely into the classic mold of a spark plug shooting guard who can check into any game and score in bunches but provides little outside of that scoring.
The Wizards already have a veteran who fits that mold in McCollum. While this means that Johnson’s utility to this season’s Wizards is slightly limited, it also means he has a great mentor. McCollum is also 34 years old and on an expiring contract, so Johnson should take his spot next year.
Overall, Johnson is bringing the Wizards an immediate microwave scorer off the bench, with the potential to blossom into a high-level scoring guard down the road.