If you asked nearly any fan of the Washington Wizards, rookie Tre Johnson has been one of the most exciting players of the team's rough season.
Entering year one with extremely high expectations after being selected No. 6 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Texas product has seemingly been under the microscope since last year's NBA Summer League, where the guard impressed.
Johnson has shown plenty of flashes this season of the offensive potential he has. Along the way, he's impressed several NBA players, with the likes of Devin Booker and CJ McCollum expressing just how talented he is.
Not to mention, newly acquired Wizard Trae Young has already gone on record to show just how intrigued he is to play alongside the talented playmaker.
However, where there are supporters, there’s always at least one critic, and after this NBA reporter’s direct shot at Johnson, it seems the Wizards’ rookie has finally found his doubter.
NBA reporter takes shot at Tre Johnson's development
In a recent X post from the Athletic's Tony Jones, the reporter took the time out of his day to seemingly take a shot at the development of Johnson.
Tre Johnson hasn't developed at all this season...He looks like the same guy that he was in summer league
— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) April 2, 2026
Jones' comments should be taken with a grain of salt, for a variety of reasons, but most of all because a rookie shouldn't be judged from his first season in the league, especially at 19-years-old.
It's also important to understand that, given his role, the sharpshooting guard has done exactly what Washington's coaching staff has asked from him, and he's shown strides even if Jones is unwilling to give him credit for it.
Oh, and the obvious point that he's looked like a completely different player when in the lineup with Trae Young.
Johnson has plenty of time to develop
The top players in the league didn't all hit the ground running, and if you look at players like Boston Celtics' star Jaylen Brown, who now finds himself as an MVP candidate, he didn't really emerge as the player he is until later in his career.
The same goes for Atlanta Hawks' breakout star Jalen Johnson, who's in the midst of a career-year that took five season for him to put it all together.
Development takes time and the early flashes from Johnson are enough signs to be encouraged about moving forward.
Next season, he'll have the opportunity to play alongside a superstar duo in Young and Anthony Davis and that alone will be a major boost for his career.
All that to say, there's no reason to worry right now, especially after only roughly six months of a sample size.