Jason Kidd finally unleashes the experiment Mavericks fans were begging for

Dallas Mavericks fans have been begging for AJ Johnson to play real minutes ever since he was included in the Anthony Davis trade, and they finally got their wish on Thursday night against the Sacramento Kings. Dallas ended up losing this game 130-121, but Johnson got his chance to prove that he deserves some playing time to finish off the season.

Johnson's 14:46 of court time was the most that he's gotten to play as a Maverick by far, and he showed some flashes that he could develop into a rotation player if Jason Kidd gives him adequate minutes moving forward.

Johnson finished with 11 points, two rebounds, and one assist against the Kings, and Kidd should continue to experiment with him to see if he has a long-term future with the Mavericks beyond this season. His 11 points included two and-one layups, a left-handed layup, and a three from the right corner.

AJ Johnson made the most of his minutes

Kidd liked what he saw from Johnson in this game, and he believes that his energy was "contagious" for the rest of the team. Moving forward, Kidd said that he would like for Johnson to "not worry about the mistakes."

More playing time should help Johnson play more freely, and with where the Mavericks are in the standings, playing Johnson every night would be a great idea.

Dallas isn't going to turn the season around, and figuring out who they want in their young core alongside Cooper Flagg should be priority No. 1.

If the Mavericks are serious about building for their future, this can't just be a one-game experiment. Giving Johnson playing time not only makes sense from a development standpoint but also from a tanking standpoint.

Some of Dallas' veterans don't need to be playing 30-plus minutes in a lost season, and taking Johnson off his leash is exactly what the Mavericks need. Kidd should give him the freedom to display his entire game to the coaching staff before wins and losses matter again next season.

Johnson also still has two more years on his rookie contract after this season, and Dallas can't afford for him to become a negative asset before his second season even ends. He was a first-round pick in 2024 for a reason, and he's on a mission to prove that he belongs in the NBA.

The Mavericks indicated that they're entirely focused on building for the future when they traded Davis and shut down Kyrie Irving, and with Johnson being 21 years old, he's now the second-youngest player on the team. Kidd has to figure out if he's part of the future in Dallas, and the final stretch of the season should help his stance on him to become clear.

Johnson's best stretch of the game against the Kings came in the second quarter after he pulled a defensive rebound and turned it into an and-one layup on the other end. He showed off his speed and athleticism in the open court on this play, and it was a glimpse into his biggest strengths as a player.

Johnson's speed and athleticism have been two of the most talked-about parts of his game for years now, but he has more to offer. He has the tools to be a high-impact defender due to his lateral quickness, length, and height, and we saw some of this against Sacramento.

Johnson full-court pressed ball handlers a couple of times in this game, and he wasn't getting beat. He also recovers quickly after getting screened, and clearly gives good effort on that end.

Dallas Mavericks fans got the look at AJ Johnson that they desperately craved, and he made the most of the minutes that Jason Kidd gave him. Now that Kidd has seen how Johnson can play when given the opportunity, there's no excuse for him not to be in the rotation.