Wizards 116, Kings 112
Q. Tonight you've shown a lot of growth in your game, and it seems like the Go-Go synergy has kind of paid off. What can you say on those thoughts that all together, those moments, has kind of came up to pull this game off?
AJ JOHNSON: No, they've definitely paid off. I feel like those reps are just very important, learning the little things and going out there and just hooping, I feel like, just helps. The Go-Go reps definitely been helping a lot.
Q. Has Cody given you any tips or advice this last stretch of games?
AJ JOHNSON: Yeah, for sure, just telling me to keep it simple, trust my instincts, go out there and play, honestly. But Cody, the whole coaching staff from G-League to the main team, I feel like they all just do a great job of just helping the development side, even if you're not rotation, just to be in there.
Q. You've been alongside Will Riley most of the season. How have you observed his adaptation to the NBA's physicality and finding his own shot diet?
AJ JOHNSON: No, definitely. I feel like he's a quick learner, honestly, and just seeing how his length and stuff like that, how he can affect the defensive end, I feel like it just adds more to the offensive end, him being able to make shots in this stretch and stuff like that, defend, rebound, crash. I feel like his growth has been pretty crazy.
Q. Coach Keefe also talked about the similar values that the G-League has to the NBA squad.
AJ JOHNSON: Yeah, I feel like it's the same kind of things definitely teaching us. When we're down in the G-League, they kind of tell us -- it's like the same type of assignment. They expect the same standard from us when we go down there to when we come up here. It helps a lot.
Q. On that note, what was it like in the fourth quarter? Obviously Anthony Gill hasn't spent time with the Go-Go but everyone else on the court has probably played fairly extensively.
AJ JOHNSON: Yeah, it felt great, honestly. Anytime I get a chance to be on the court, just go out there and play, I'm just loving every minute of it. Just trying to soak it up and go out there and compete, honestly. It felt great for sure.
Q. What have you learned about Sharife Cooper, spending time around him?
AJ JOHNSON: Definitely a smart IQ player for sure, very skilled. Him being able to get the offensive rebound, see where the ball was going was super clutch after making a great pass into the corner. Yeah, for sure.
Q. I wanted to ask you about Skal this year. It's hard to get a 10-day contract and be productive in the NBA, but he's done that. What have you noticed about him off the court and also how he's been able to be productive on the court?
AJ JOHNSON: Yeah, definitely a great guy off the court, super supportive, just there for his teammates. Even on the court, as well, him being able to just communicate and stuff like that to us, telling us -- you're not spending too much time off the top, but any way he can just help and talk to us, he is communicating a lot to us. It's been good.
Q. For you personally, how do you feel like you've progressed this year specifically on offense getting past your first defender at the point of attack?
AJ JOHNSON: Yeah, definitely. I feel like just the reads, even just slowing it up, I know I can get by my first man, but just knowing it's going to be a read that I've got to make. It might not be a lay-up every time for myself, but if I can get in there and just make a kick-out for my teammates or something, make a play for my teammates, that's what I'm looking forward to doing, too.
Q. Where do you think you've made some of the biggest strides since the end of last season?
AJ JOHNSON: I would probably say just definitely catch and shoot. I'm just trying to implement that to be like a main theme. I feel like guys know I'm going to get to the rim, so I feel like that kind of stuff I've been working on a lot. Just leading us to understanding the game, watching a lot more film now, learning how to dissect the defense, learning new things, honestly, just how to master the game at the mental level. But yeah, just working on that.
Q. What was it like not only to win this game at the end of the game with the G-League guys but against guys like DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine who are established vets in this league?
AJ JOHNSON: No, it definitely feels good going out there and playing against great players and just going out there and competing. Definitely just a great blessing for sure.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports