Wizards’ Tre Johnson breaks franchise rookie record in thrilling win against Bucks

ByNBAUSA


Washington Wizards don’t just play with joybut rookie shooting guard Tre Johnson made history just over two months into his freshman season. The total number 6 for the year 2025 was a franchise-rookie-record nine consecutive three-pointers between Monday’s 115-101 loss to the Phoenix Suns and Wednesday’s 114-113 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, according to the team’s social media.

Johnson’s streak surpassed fellow guard Kelly Oubre Jr.’s eight straight 3-pointers from Dec. 19-26, 2015. The 19-year-old went 5-of-5 deep against the Suns before going 4-of-4 against the Bucks. He missed his last three attempts after that, finishing with 14 points (5-13 FG, 4-7 3-point), along with two rebounds and two assists in 28 minutes. He also recorded a record 24 points (9-12 FG, 5-5 3-point) in 25 minutes against the Suns.

Johnson is shooting an incredible 41.4 percent from long range on 5.1 average attempts this season, and in December he shot at a clip of 44.2 percent. The former Texas Longhorn lives up to his pre-draft reputation as a rebound shooter.

Johnson isn’t the only wizard lighting it up from the deep, either. Second-year running back Bub Carrington is shooting 45.1 percent from three on 4.4 attempts this season after scoring 20 points (7-14 FG, 6-11 3-point) with five rebounds, five assists and one block in 24 minutes off the bench in Wednesday’s win. Carrington ranks eighth among NBA players with at least four average attempts in three-point percentage, while Johnson ranks 13th among those averaging five attempts, according to Advanced NBA Statistics. Washington is 14th as a team at a 36.2 percent clip.

Meanwhile, second-year center Alex Sarr returned to Milwaukee after a memorable performance against Phoenix, posting 20 points (7-15 FG, 1-2 3-pointers), 11 rebounds, four blocks and two assists in 28 minutes. The 20-year-old tied Carrington for the team high in points while also leading in points and rebounds. Furthermore, his last block was against Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo with 8.5 seconds left, setting up veteran guard CJ McCollum for a go-ahead jumper with one second left.

Antetokounmpo then missed a 13-foot jumper on the final play, winning Wizards’ second win over the Bucks from the three matches so far this season. Washington is now 5-4 in its last nine games after starting the season 3-20.

Second-year guard AJ Johnson provided another subplot for the Wizards, as they gave him his first NBA extended run of the season. The 21-year-old posted eight points (3-5 FG, 2-3 3-point), two assists, one steal and a plus-14 plus/minus in 16 minutes against his former team.

Johnson has previously been placed on NBA duty this year, but is averaging 17.6 points on 40.7 percent shooting (29.1 percent from 3-point range) with 2.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.5 turnovers in 29.3 minutes (eight games) for the Washington G League. The organization acquired him from Milwaukee along with veteran forward Khris Middleton at last season’s trade deadline for veteran forward Kyle Kuzma.

Will Johnson be able to make it in the Wizards’ rotation?

AJ Johnson describes development journey with Wizards

Washington Wizards guard AJ Johnson (4) shoots over Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis (9) during the fourth quarter at Fiserv Forum.
© Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Johnson’s path to the NBA was unconventional. Born in California, he signed with the Illawarra Hawks of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) in April 2023 after ranked as a four-star recruit out of high school, according to ESPN. He then averaged just 7.7 minutes in 26 games before being selected 23rd overall by the Bucks in June 2024.

Johnson appeared in seven NBA games and 25 G League contests for Milwaukee before Washington traded him, but averaged 9.1 points on 38.1 percent shooting (24.7 percent from 3-point range) with 2.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 27 minutes (22 games, 11 starts) in the second half of the NBA campaign. While he showed explosive cutting ability, he was still raw beyond that.

Johnson then took hits on the road with the Go-Go’s this season, including in their 112-101 home loss to the Maine Celtics (Boston Celtics affiliate) on December 10th. The 6-foot-5, 160-pounder finished with 16 points (7-18 FG, 1-6 FG, 1-6 with four rebounds, two rebounds and a 3-pointer). 31st minute, but coach Cody Toppert removed him to the bench at the end of the game due to defensive lapses and poor shot selection. Toppert was visibly upset with him during the post-bench talk.

Johnson spoke with ClutchPoints after the game about his thoughts on that exchange.

“I love it, the way he pushes me. To keep getting better, focus on the little things,” he said. “(He) never lets me be soft or low-energy in any way. I just love the fact that he’s always on top of me and has high standards for me.”

Johnson also talked about what he still wants to improve.

“My defense for sure. Little things, just being in the right places,” he said. “Being a better leader out there with my teammates, always making sure everybody’s in the right spots…With my individual game, just shooting, getting into the paint more, finding the middle game, the floater, the middie. Just everything, really.”

Ultimately, Johnson revealed the similarities and differences between what he learned from Toppert and Wizards head coach Brian Keefe.

“It’s really the same thing, that’s what I like about it,” he said. “They kind of give us the same type of assignments at both levels, you’re just playing against different people, different types of coverages. . . . They want us to play hard and pay attention to the details with our little things. Defense, offense, being all the way in the corner, like a deep corner instead of just in the middle. . . . Those are the little things when it comes to being efficient in our league today. . . .”

Johnson’s work paid off with an efficient outing on Wednesday, giving him something to build on as he tries to earn consistent NBA playing time. If he maintains the mindset he showed after the Go-Go loss on Dec. 10, there’s no reason he can’t continue to put up good days, health permitting.

Next up for Washington is a home matchup with the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night.





2026-01-01 22:18:00

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