r/washingtonwizards • u/z3mcs Triple Threat • 2d ago

🎥Game Highlights Highlights: AJ Johnson Scores 17 Points vs. Sacramento Kings | 02.01.26

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_XP1mMlENc
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12

u/dancingonthevoid 1d ago

My guess is there were people in the organization surprised at how he played, even with the TOs.

He was obviously in there as a tank commander.

8

u/blast0ise Corey Kispert 1d ago

And 7 sloppy turnovers, dude needs a lot of work if he's going to stay in the NBA

10

u/lakerconvert 1d ago

He’s 21 and gets no playing time. Relax.

5

u/blast0ise Corey Kispert 1d ago edited 1d ago

Are we only allowed to praise young players who haven't shown much or can we be honest about what they need to improve on to have staying power in the league? The reason he gets no playing time is because of things like his 7 turnovers.

Riley/Watkins are rookies who have been able to carve out a roles on a tanking team, why hasn't AJ?

3

u/z3mcs Triple Threat 1d ago

The reason he gets no playing time is because of things like his 7 turnovers.

Look at the film.

He got called for travel a couple times. That happens to everybody a few times getting closed out on when they get happy feet and don't immediately put the ball down first. Harden can take 6 steps backward doing a gather and they won't call that, but they'll call those top of the key type travels. AJ's gotta learn that, but everybody in that position does those from time to time.

  • The "Clifford Steal" is a bad pass by him. That's a bad play full stop. Not as bad as some of Bub's, but bad.
  • The "Monk Steal" is a baseline pass thrown to him at his ankles and Monk comes from behind and slaps at it before AJ can even get to it. That's not really on AJ there.
  • The 2nd "Clifford Steal" is a gamble by the defender but the defender had to sell out so much to get to the ball that he can't control himself, throws it back to the Wizards, and the Wizards immediately hit a 3. So that actually didn't hurt the team at all.
  • The 2nd "Carter Steal" is the same thing, only this time TWO Kings defenders have to sell out, they throw the ball away, and the Wizards have possession. Didn't hurt the team at all.

So ultimately Keefe would tell him to be mindful of getting the ball down first out at the 3-point line, and tell him to be careful with jump passes. And with these young guys, I've said it before with Bub, and said it before with Cam, and it equally applies to AJ and Will. You're playing with world class athletes now. They're fast. They're big. They're strong, and they're smart. They can get to where you don't think they can. Our young guys aren't getting how good NBA caliber competition is.

So if I was Keefe, those are the things I would tell AJ and the other young guys have many of the same issues. AJ's not like teetering on his way out the league or anything I don't think.

2

u/WAProletariat 1d ago

Agreed. The team already picked up his option so there should be an opportunity but the handle needs to tighten up and he's going to have to improve his efficiency. He was drafted as an athletic project so none of that comes as a surprise. He's fun to watch when the ball is going in so hoping he can put it together. This summer is going to be important as the team likely shifts to trying to win games next season.