Tre Johnson hears a voice when he plays basketball. It’s his own. He won’t reveal what he says but does mention the self-talk is exclusively negative. Johnson picks at himself, always looking for more — even if he is playing well.
At times, Johnson hears his voice differently. It echoes of his father’s. He heard Richard Johnson Jr.’s gravelly tone all the time growing up, often cutting through crowded gyms and empty blacktops.
“Growing up, there was not too much positivity. … I never asked [my dad] why,” Johnson said. “But I always thought [it was] just so I never got complacent. … I feel like I’m never talking to myself in a positive way.”
That internal critic is a remnant of a father-son relationship that was at times turbulent. Richard Johnson intentionally made himself Tre’s coach, believing he could best develop his son. It worked.
Johnson built a furious work ethic. At 19, the Texas guard was selected sixth overall by the Washington Wizards in the 2025 draft and could become a premier scorer in the NBA. Through 12 games as a rookie, he’s averaging 11.9 points a night.
But Richard’s dual-role strained his relationship with Tre. Their bond has been rekindled in recent years, in large part because Richard stepped back as coach.
2 comments
I know sports is all about competition and being as tough as possible but I really hope Tre can have some healthy outlets outside the game and not use negative self-talk as a main method of motivation. I wonder how the team is supporting these young guys on the mental side of things away from the court.
I feel this so much, both the self critique and the parent whose voice is in your head when you play sports.
If Tre ever reads reddit comments I just wanted to say that the thing that helped me the most was the realization that when it comes to sports what is owed goes both ways. Everyone has heard the saying “Today I will do what others won’t so tomorrow I will achieve what other can’t”, but nobody ever says the reverse of that which is “Today I will enjoy what I achieved so that my dreams yesterday were worth the sweat.”
Don’t work any less hard, and don’t be any less critical of yourself either. Just learning to enjoy that process of becoming is a huge mental edge, and try to take moments out of every day to remember what the younger you’s dreams were.