AJ Johnson, the 21-year-old guard on assignment from the Dallas Mavericks, had never played at the Comerica Center before Saturday night. However, by the end of the game, he delivered one of the most impressive performances for the Texas Legends this season, scoring 27 points on 10-of-14 shooting. Despite his strong showing, the Legends fell 112–105 to the Valley Suns after surrendering a decisive 32–17 run in the fourth quarter that erased their eight-point lead. This loss pushed Texas’s record to 6–18 for the season.
Rapid Adaptation to the Texas Legends System
Johnson was introduced to head coach Max Hooper only during Saturday morning’s shootaround, with no prior practice or walkthrough. Despite limited preparation time, Johnson stepped onto the court ready to execute plays, read defenses, and contribute effectively, leaving his coach impressed.
“I cannot speak more positively about that guy,”
Hooper said.
“Twenty-seven points on 14 shots, 50.0% from three, made all his free throws. The nature of an NBA assignment player is a guy can come down and just shoot a bunch of balls and then return to the Mavs — no harm, no foul. He didn’t do that. He played ball. He played the right way.”
Johnson’s final line included 27 points, three rebounds, and three assists on highly efficient shooting, contrasting sharply with his season averages. Across 32 NBA games this season, including seven with Dallas, he averaged around 3.0 points and under 10 minutes per game, with shooting percentages below 35%. Saturday’s extended minutes allowed Johnson to showcase a different level of performance.
“It felt great, honestly, just to be back on the court again,”
Johnson reflected.
“Playing a full game, 30, 35 minutes — it felt good.”
Coming off back-to-back NBA games and preparing for another contest against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, Johnson endured a physically demanding schedule. His competitive drive and love for the game fueled his energy despite the tight turnaround.
“Just competitiveness,”
he said when asked about his stamina.
“We love this game. Even if I feel drained after a back-to-back, as soon as I step on the court, I get energy. It’s just love for it.”
Strong Dallas Mavericks Support at Comerica Center
The Mavericks’ presence at the game highlighted the organizational commitment to the Legends and Johnson’s development. Players Cooper Flagg, Dereck Lively II, Brandon Williams, Ryan Nembhard, and Moussa Cissé attended despite Dallas’s busy schedule with three games in four days.
“That means a lot,”
Johnson said.
“Those are my guys. Even though I just met them, I knew some of them before I came here. The fact they came out and supported us — that’s real love.”
Coach Hooper also noted the significance of their attendance.
“That speaks volumes. They have a busy schedule — playing three games in four days — so for them to show up, that’s big,”
he said.
Nembhard’s recent contract upgrade from a two-way deal to a standard NBA agreement signaled the developmental potential for Legends players, underscoring the achievements possible through consistent effort. The crowd’s energy further energized Johnson.
“They were loud,”
Johnson noted.
“I’m not gonna lie — they were screaming the whole time. That was definitely fun.”
From Trade Acquisition to Growing Role with Dallas Mavericks
AJ Johnson joined the Dallas Mavericks as part of a major trade deadline deal that sent Anthony Davis, Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell, and Danté Exum to Washington, in exchange for Johnson, Khris Middleton, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, and draft picks.
Johnson’s journey to earning consistent playing time in Dallas has been gradual. During his initial five games before the All-Star break, he saw limited minutes and struggled for rhythm, scoring in single digits and shooting inefficiently. However, following the break, Johnson showed flashes of promise, notably scoring 11 points on perfect shooting against Sacramento and playing a season-high 34 minutes the next night versus Memphis.
Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd praised Johnson’s approach.
“I thought AJ was great,”
Kidd said.
“His attitude has been great since we’ve had him. He’s taken full advantage of his time on the floor. Some people would say he has to put on weight — that’s not necessarily true, but maybe. I think it’s just competing. He did that in Minnesota, he did that last night, and he’ll have the opportunity to do that again tonight.”
Kidd pushed back on the idea Johnson needs wholesale changes immediately.
“He’s doing it,”
Kidd added.
“He’s working on his game. He’s being patient and understanding it doesn’t happen overnight.”
Kidd also recalled a memorable moment from a recent game, when NBA veteran Klay Thompson offered in-game advice to Johnson.
“It’s always good when you can have a future Hall of Famer talk to you during the game,”
Kidd said. “That’s valuable.”
Coachability and Maturity Highlight AJ Johnson’s Performance
For Hooper, the quality of Johnson’s play was less about the points and more about his approach. Rather than blending into a new environment with unfamiliar teammates, Johnson actively engaged, responded promptly to coaching instructions, and displayed aggressive play.
“It has nothing to do with the 27 points — it has to do with how he got those 27 points and the way he played the game,”
Hooper said.
“Anytime you told him something, it was ‘Yes, coach.’ When I told him to be aggressive, he went out and was aggressive. He and I had multiple conversations throughout the game, which I thought was cool — especially with a 21-year-old still trying to find a consistent location in professional basketball.”
Johnson acknowledged the support of his new teammates.
“My teammates made it easier,”
he said.
“They’re super cool guys, so it made adjusting to a new team a lot easier.”
Reflecting on the entire evening, Johnson expressed gratitude for his professional journey.
“It felt great,”
he said.
“It’s a blessing every time I step on the court and am a professional. Definitely a dream come true. Playing with guys who are super cool makes it easier to adjust. Definitely a blessing.”
Potential Growth Areas and Future Expectations for Johnson
Saturday’s outing revealed Johnson’s physical abilities, including his 6-foot-5 frame, quick first step, transition speed, and versatility both with and without the ball. Head coach Hooper outlined next steps focusing on shot consistency, especially in catch-and-shoot scenarios, and physical strength development.
“The sky’s the limit in terms of his physical tools,”
Hooper said.
“He’s 6-5, 6-6 with a super quick first step and burst. Great in transition. Versatile — can play on or off the ball.”
“Next step: shooting consistency. Understanding catch-and-shoot opportunities. And defensively, the physicality. He needs to hit the weight room and bulk up a bit,”
Hooper continued.
“As he physically matures and understands the pro game more, he has massive potential in the NBA.”
Johnson’s shooting percentages corroborate these observations. While he has connected on only 25.0% of his three-point attempts this season, his free-throw shooting has remained strong at 80%, rising to 87.5% in his games with Dallas. His challenge lies in transferring that free-throw proficiency to catch-and-shoot opportunities within fluid offensive actions.
“My reads off the ball screen,”
Johnson said.
“Getting the ball side to side, getting to the corner. Catch-and-shoots for sure. And just my reads overall.”
Developing the instinct to recognize when to shoot versus create plays is fundamental. Johnson’s 2-of-4 shooting from deep on Saturday, combined with an efficient 10-of-14 field goal performance, indicates progress in decision-making. Both Kidd and Hooper agree that physical development will follow with time, while Johnson’s competitive spirit, coachability, and feel for the game set a strong foundation.
“As long as he’s with the Legends, we look forward to helping him in his development and helping him be a positive contributor, whether he’s with the Legends or the Mavs,”
Hooper said.
Brandon Armstrong’s Career-High Performance Overshadowed by Fourth-Quarter Collapse
Alongside Johnson’s breakout night, Mark Armstrong delivered a career-best 31 points on 51.7% shooting, leading Texas’s offense through three quarters. His steady scoring provided key support and kept the Legends competitive against the Valley Suns.
“From the beginning, we were just getting downhill, getting a good rhythm with the team,”
Armstrong explained.
“The ball was moving well side to side, so I caught a rhythm early.”
Other contributors included Matt Cross, who recorded 18 points and 13 rebounds in over 41 minutes, and Trey Townsend, who added nine points and assists while playing nearly 38 minutes. The Legends built an 88–80 lead entering the final period after winning the first three quarters, outscoring the Suns during that span. However, the fourth quarter revealed critical weaknesses.
The Valley Suns dominated down the stretch, led by Khaman Maluach’s 24 points and 17 rebounds and CJ Huntley’s 20 points and 15 rebounds. Maluach and Huntley combined for 16 offensive rebounds, exploiting the absence of key Texas center Jamari Sharp, who was limited to under 10 minutes due to fatigue. This allowed Valley to control the boards, outrebounding Texas 58–40 overall and amassing 23 offensive rebounds.
Sean McDermott contributed 22 points, including six three-pointers, delivering the decisive finishing rally.
“We ran out of gas,”
Hooper said simply.
The Texas Legends will next play on Tuesday, March 3, facing the Memphis Hustle on the road at 7:00 p.m. CT.
