On Friday night, Wizards fans got to see Tre Johnson in action for the first time since Washington made him a top-ten pick. In Washignton’s summer league game opener, Johnson showed off his scoring touch. Although the Wizards were unable to emerge with a win, Johnson was a bright spot. Against the Phoenix Suns, the Texas native got 28 minutes of action. He made the most of it, scoring 18 points. The talented guard also dished out two assists while adding three rebounds to his resume. For many in Texas, that was the type of performance that they saw from Johnson on a nightly basis. 

In his only season as a Longhorn, Johnson averaged 19.9 points per game while shooting 39.7 from three-point range. As the Longhorns struggled to string wins together, Johnson was arguably their best player. That was partly why he was one of the most talked about prospects heading into the draft. 

With the Wizards, Johnson will be counted on to be a key piece of the offense. In the SEC, he thrived with the ball in his hands regardless of the opponent. He also showed an ability to score in bunches, which will be important as he tries to live up to lofty expectations. 

In his summer league debut, Johnson showed that he was not afraid to shoot the ball. His 13 shots were the second most on the team, trailing only Kyshawn George. That is a trend that should continue during the summer league and into the regular season. 

Although the competition in regular-season games will be more challenging, Johnson showed why the Wizards see him as a foundational piece for years to come on Friday night.Â