The Washington Wizards have a young roster heading into next season, but that hasn't stopped general manager Will Dawkins hopes of setting the tone from the jump.
Washington's general manager made it clear that entering the season, nothing would be given, but instead earned.
The Wizards want to set a culture built around hard work and make it clear that to the newcomers and the returning players on the roster, no spots were guarenteed.
Whether it's a starting spot, sixth man role or end of the bench seat, every player will be expected to earn their spot on the roster.
Not only does that bring out the competitive spirit from each player, but it instills the desire for each player to prove the willingness to work.
For some players across the league, questionable work ethic can be the difference between a starting spot on a top team or fighting for their careers in the NBA G-League.
Fortunately, the Wizards don't have any players on the roster with concerns about their work ethic.
In fact, incoming rookie Tre Johnson in specific is one player who's setting the bar high when it comes to work ethic.
Tre Johnson is dedicated to being the best
Tre Johnson was selected with the No. 6 overall pick in the past offseason's NBA Draft.
The former Texas star has high expectations entering year one with the Wizards, but with the chip on his shoulder, the guard's expectations for himself likely exceed any expectations placed on him by outsiders.
As a result, the playmaker has put countless hours in the gym making it a point of emphasis to perfect his craft ahead of his rookie campaign.
CJ McCollum told us that Wizards coaches have been telling Tre Johnson III to get more rest after practice (he’s known as a hard worker). Right after that, unprompted, we saw Tre shooting on the court as assistant coaches jokingly yelled “go home!”
— Chase Hughes (@chasedcsports) October 7, 2025
Whether learning from veterans like CJ McCollum and Khris Middleton, working on chemistry with other young players on the roster, or simply just putting the work in to expand his game, Johnson has quickly turned heads.
There's no doubt that Johnson has the talent to be a premiere talent at the next level, but the work ethic is the one thing that can separate him from the other prospects entering the league alongside him.
Johnson is willing to put the work in and not only prove that the Wizards made the right selection at No. 6 overall, but prove that the teams who selected 1-5 made the wrong choice.
The early dedication is a great sign and if it's any indication of the type of player the Wizards have in Johnson, Washington may have finally found a cornerstone to build around.