After spending a significant portion of Kevin Durant’s childhood marveling at his shooting stroke, length and footwork, Washington Wizards rookie Tre Johnson hardly shared the same enthusiasm about actually playing against him.

Undoubtedly, Johnson sounded eager both for the Wizards’ season-opener against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday and when the Wizards visit the Houston Rockets on November 12. But Johnson strongly suggested he won’t carry the same starstruck feelings he harbored as a child once he actually matches up with Durant on the court.

“It’ll be just another game, I guess,” Tre Johnson told EssentiallySports. “At the end of the day, I’m still trying to win and we don’t have the same jersey on.”

The Wizards selected Johnson with their No. 6 pick partly because of that competitive spirit. He has earned rave reviews among the Wizards and the University of Texas coaching staffs for religiously staying in the gym to work on his game. Durant has embodied similar qualities, which explains why he remains one of the NBA’s most prolific and efficient scorers entering his 18 NBA season.

Johnson spoke with EssentiallySports on Durant’s influence, his reputable work habits and what he expects out of himself and the Wizards in the 2025-26 season.

Editor’s note: The following one-on-one interview has been edited and condensed

What have been the highlights of camp so far?

Johnson: “Just everybody competing. Everybody is jelling together. That have been the biggest two things. I’m getting used to everything with knowing the plays and knowing the defensive schemes. We’re trying to play fast on both ends. We’re trying to speed guys up. And then we’re trying to play fast on offense.”

What will be the key to play fast on both ends consistently?

Johnson: “I feel like we’ll have to press the ball as soon as it gets inbounded. That could take off the clock. And then that will speed them into a bad shot. And then with us also rebounding. That will help us push and go on offense.”

You’ve gotten a lot of praise for staying in the gym. What have you been trying to show?

Johnson: “I haven’t been trying to show anything. I’m just trying to get better with my game. I’m really just focusing on everything and all aspects in general. I can do whatever is asked. I can do whatever is needed. That’s the biggest thing. I’m the first one in, and the last one to leave. That has probably been me these last few weeks. I have an early workout in the morning before I eat breakfast. Then before treatment, we’re working out before practice and getting up shots. Then after practice, I’ll get treatment and work on my body.”

I’m reading some of the guys are playfully ribbing you about how you’re always in the gym. What do you think of that?

Johnson: “I’ve been hearing that since college, to be honest. Coach has been telling me stuff like that. But I got nothing else better to do. So I figure while I’m already at the gym, I could be getting better.”

Much has been made about having some hobbies. Have you picked up any?

Johnson: “Nah, nothing yet. I haven’t even tried anything, to be honest.”

During your pre-draft, you said you started reading books. What are you reading?

Johnson: “I was reading a lot of ‘Joshua Medcalf’ books. But I’ve slowed it down on that. Reading is a faster way to help me go to sleep. I don’t even know. I don’t think I can finish two chapters of a book without going to sleep. It’s always been like, I’ll get into the book, but then I start yawning. Then I know it’s downhill from there.”

Maybe that’s actually helpful with recovery. Do you think you’ll start doing that during the season to help with your sleep?

Johnson: “I love going to sleep. So sleeping isn’t a problem. I think it’ll help out a lot just having that energy for the next day. I feel like things can pile up leading into the games.”

You’re known as a really good shooter. What do you expect what you’ll show there?

Johnson: “I’ll help space the floor for guys and help them be consistent to knock down shots.”

What about your goal to shoot 90% from the free-throw line? What will it take to have such impressive numbers?

Johnson: “It’s about locking in on every shot. Every time I get to the line, it’s about staying focused. I want to stay efficient.”

What’s been your routine to help you be considered the best shooter in your draft class?

Johnson: “I try to do the same thing with my form and have my feet set. Then I rep it out with my workouts. It’s not too complicated. I work on catch-and-shoots because those are shots that I get in the game.”

What about defensively? Some pre-draft analysis consider that a weakness in your game. What do you think you can show on that end?

Johnson: “Not really show much. People who have seen me play know that I can defend. I’ve never really been the one to get picked out too much. So it’s really about being solid on defense. Maybe I’ll try to be more active in steals. That’s the only place where defense shows on the stat sheet.”

What do you think it will take to do that without compromising team defense?

Johnson: “It’s really just about being in the right spot on team defense. That will help you get steals. Or you can pick up at 94 feet and apply pressure. You can disrupt the ball movement without trying to get beat.”

Is the criticism about your defense fair?

Johnson: “That’s somebody else’s opinion. To me, it doesn’t really bother me or matter, to be honest. If you want to attack me, that’s fine. It’ll make me look better.”

What stuff has CJ [McCollum] helped you with so far?

Johnson: “Just watching how he is professionally on and off the court. I watch him from afar. There’s not too much verbal. He’s professional in everything with what he does with his body maintenance, his time on the court. He does the same thing every day at the same time.”

You’ve said KD influenced your game the most growing up. How so?

Johnson: “Just by staying in the gym. I’m always working hard in the gym and not taking a rep off. He’s got great size and footwork. He always knows how to get to his spots on the court.”

How do you process that he’s still playing at a high level at this stage of his career?

Johnson: “He’s been taking care of his body during all of his years in the NBA. That’s the only way around it for him to be this good.”

What do you think it’ll be like when you play against him?

Johnson: “It’ll be just another game, I guess.”

Why?

Johnson: “At the end of the day, I’m still trying to win and we don’t have the same jersey on.”

What other matchups are you most looking forward to?

Johnson: “Not really, to be honest. I’m just trying to be able to play all 82, so I don’t miss many matchups.”

What do you expect this team can accomplish this season?

Johnson: “I feel like we can accomplish whatever we want to accomplish. That’s what I believe. We just have to get on the same page with what we want to do this season.”

Mark Medina is an NBA insider for Essentially Sports. Follow him on X, Blue Sky, Instagram, Facebook and Threads.