Rookie's brief showing was the cherry on top in Bucks' win over Pistons

With the Milwaukee Bucks firmly leading the Detroit Pistons in the fourth quarter in their last game, Doc Rivers pulled his starters and let the young guns off the leash.

That included AJ Johnson seeing his first action of the night. Johnson, a first-round pick in this past NBA Draft, hasn't seen too much time this season, as it's clear the Bucks have the long-term in mind over the short-term regarding the 19-year-old. He's spent most of his time in the G-League, where he has played rather well lately, so it's always nice to see him earn some time in the big leagues.

While Johnson's performance won't have fans clamoring for him to earn more time, his two minutes and 25 seconds of action showcased that hidden potential he has within him - and that he's still very much a work in progress, as expected.

Bucks' AJ Johnson keeps flexing his potential

While he didn't even play three minutes, there was plenty to dissect from Johnson's performance. First and foremost, despite his age, he's incredibly confident with the ball in his hands.

Picking up a loose ball with under two minutes to go, Johnson fearlessly drove to the basket and went up for a wild, acrobatic finish over Detroit's Simone Fontecchio. It was the type of move that fans may have been talking about long after the game ended if he made it. He missed it. Really, it wasn't close. Yet, despite the miss, the youngster seemingly wiped it from his memory immediately.

Less than a minute later, he caught a pass in the corner from fellow rookie Tyler Smith, shooting his shot without a second thought and burying it. Moments later, once again heading toward the hoop fully determined to score, Johnson didn't let his previous miss deter him, as he challenged Piston guard Marcus Sasser and finished the play this time.

Johnson is an incredibly fun player to watch, and it's clear he possesses the type of skill that could fuel a very nice NBA career - in time. He has the athleticism, youth and (definitely) the quickness to make a name for himself very quickly when given minutes. For now, the focus will be refining these raw skills and sharpening his game every single day.

Even if he's not in the Milwaukee Bucks' plans this season, it's always nice to see AJ Johnson get on the court, especially if it means the team is up by a sizeable margin. With the Bucks well on their way to a win over Detroit, seeing Johnson get some legitimate reps under his belt was a nice bonus. Fans would certainly not complain if this became a common trend amid this win streak.

Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.