The Washington Wizards have had a difficult season, but they're trending in the right direction right now, having won four of their last seven games. One of the biggest positive trends has been the continued strong play of Tre Johnson, who looks like a player with true star potential.
Johnson has proven his abilities as a shooter and overall offensive player and shown flashes of an exciting ceiling over his first two months as a professional. He's a special movement shooter, and his output has Wizards fans feeling like they went from draft lottery disappointment to getting a real steal.
It's obvious that Tre already looks very comfortable in an NBA setting. He comes off screens naturally and shows the kind of timing and efficiency that a lot of young guards struggle to develop. Washington’s offense already looks more fluid when he's on the floor, and that's not something that happens by accident.
DC got a sniper manpic.twitter.com/qYUiDGvAyT https://t.co/IzBEv3KfVr
— riley ｼ (@rileyr_) December 28, 2025
Tre Johnson's shooting gravity changes the equation for Washington
Johnson’s off-ball movement has also made life easier for the rest of the roster. Defenses are already forced to stay attached to him due to his range, and that opens driving lanes for the Wizards’ primary ball-handlers and creates cleaner looks for bigs in pick-and-roll actions. Even on nights when his shot isn't falling at an elite rate, his gravity is still providing real value. That's a rare trait for a rookie on a rebuilding team.
The defensive side of the ball is still a work in progress, but there have been encouraging signs there as well. Johnson has shown good effort navigating screens and a willingness to compete, which matters more than raw numbers at this stage. The Wizards don't need him to be a lockdown defender right now, they just need him to stay engaged and continue learning how to survive physically at the NBA level.
Washington’s recent uptick in wins is not solely because of Johnson, but his presence has clearly raised the team’s baseline. The Wizards look more confident late in games, and there's a growing sense that they have a young scorer who can actually tilt momentum instead of just filling minutes. That changes how a rebuild feels from the inside.
For a franchise that has spent years searching for a true offensive centerpiece, Tre Johnson’s early returns matter more than the standings. The Wizards may still be far from contention, but they're no longer wandering without direction. If Johnson continues developing at this pace, Washington might finally have a foundational piece worth building around, and that alone makes this season feel like a meaningful step forward.