Raptors 112, Wizards 104
Q. (On playing with the Wizards.)
AJ JOHNSON: It's meant everything to me, honestly, playing the game I love at the highest level. My teammates, they're cool guys. Real fun.
Q. With you being a lob threat, you got, I think, four or five dunks tonight. How much do you think it helps the team to have a player like you who can always have a nose for that?
AJ JOHNSON: I think it helps a lot just bringing energy and stuff like that, running the floor. Even if I run the floor, I might not have it but it might open up for somebody else, like a chemistry three or something like that, so it's super cool.
Q. Where would you rank your lob threat in terms of your assets as a player?
AJ JOHNSON: Where would I rank it?
Q. Between shooting, play making, anything like that, because it's coming through as being one of your best assets?
AJ JOHNSON: That's definitely up there with everything I can do, honestly.
Q. Have you always been this fearless attacking the basket against much bigger guys?
AJ JOHNSON: Oh, yeah, no, definitely. I feel like growing up I was just always smaller than my opponents, like my whole life. I feel like that kind of just put my mindset to not really care if an opponent is bigger than me or not, still to be able to get downhill and stuff like that.
Q. Even in high school you were not --
AJ JOHNSON: Even in high school. My freshman year I was like 5'7" and close to my sophomore year I got to like 6'2", 6'3", stuff like that, so I've usually always been smaller and skinnier.
Q. How tall were you when you dunked for the first time?
AJ JOHNSON: I was like 6'2", 6'3", 15 years old.
Q. Seems like you're one of the fastest guys on the team with the ball in your hands. How would you describe your speed with the ball and what it can do for a team?
AJ JOHNSON: I feel like it can do a lot for the team, just being able to make plays for others, touch the paint multiple times like on the break, opening up for either myself or others.
Q. What stands out to you most about the team and D.C. since you got here?
AJ JOHNSON: I would just say my teammates are all super chill, super cool. It's been easy settling in with them. It's made it a lot easier. They're like super energized and stuff like that, super diverse and stuff like that. It's been cool.
Q. Do you have a favorite dunk from tonight?
AJ JOHNSON: Probably the lob. Probably the one-handed one; I liked that one, too. But I liked the other two from Bub. I felt like that was good energy plays for us and stuff like that. I liked those.
Q. What's it like getting the level of crowd reaction you did? Every time you dunked the crowd got to its feet?
AJ JOHNSON: Yeah, it's definitely lit. Like I said, I feel like it's a good energy booster. I feel like the whole team, to get us on a run. Yeah, for sure.
Q. Was this the best opportunity to play in a long time? I know you've played some extended run in the G-League, but last year in Australia you didn't get a ton of minutes --
AJ JOHNSON: Not at all. I feel like it's definitely up there with minutes and stuff like that. I feel like I've played more than I played today, but it's definitely more than I was playing last year for sure.
Q. With that increasing minutes, how has your development been going?
AJ JOHNSON: I feel like it's been going up honestly every day. The more I play, I just feel like I'm getting better and better and understanding more. I'm just excited to keep playing.
Q. You've had a pretty good impact -- I think the team is like nine points a possession better with you on the court. How do you feel like you've been able to help them so far early on?
AJ JOHNSON: Yeah, I feel like I've just been able to do a good job of making plays for myself and for others, touching the paint, creating and stuff like that, being aggressive. Just being me.
Q. Coach Cochran said that every rep you get is 100 percent. How would you describe your motor?
AJ JOHNSON: Yeah, I would say my body and my legs are trained to go fast and stuff like that. I'm actually trying to work on like change of speed and stuff like that. But I feel like I'm just usually go, trying to play hard every chance I get.
Q. What would you say are the main skills you want to improve on at this point?
AJ JOHNSON: I would probably say of course shooting, off the catch, off the dribble, all of them. I would probably say, like, a floater as well, but really all parts of my game. I just want to grow every single part of my game, honestly.
Q. It's not common for rookies to draw a lot of fouls. How pleased are you or encouraged are you that you're drawing some fouls?
AJ JOHNSON: Yeah. I mean, I feel like it's always good to be able to draw fouls, get to the paint, easy free throws and stuff like that. Yeah, I feel like it just comes from being really aggressive and giving them a reason to call it. They're not going to give all of them, but I feel like if you go in there super aggressive, you'll get some of them for sure.
Q. Where does your confidence come from, because you seem like you know you belong here.
AJ JOHNSON: Yeah, 100 percent. I feel like that just comes from -- ever since I was young, honestly, just being just an underdog and stuff like that, being overlooked for my size and stuff.
It definitely just comes from within.
Q. You and Bub have played a lot together. What do you think that chemistry is like?
AJ JOHNSON: That chemistry is crazy, honestly. I feel like that's going to be really scary now. That's going to be scary for sure.
Q. Is it good to have another American-born rookie --
BUB CARRINGTON: Yes, completely. I love having someone that I can actually understand. It just makes it a lot easier, someone I can connect on a lob with.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports