Wilmington, N.C. ? Juan Dixon’s competitive nature might be his biggest ally as he tries to make the transition to the NBA. It also might be his biggest obstacle.

“I want him to learn to play more efficiently,” Washington Wizards coach Doug Collins said. “I don’t want to take the intensity or energy away, but I don’t want him using up energy in areas he doesn’t have to.”

Dixon, the gutsy whip of a guard who carried the Maryland Terrapins to last season’s NCAA championship, said he might not be able to curb his instinct to battle. He had to prove he wasn’t too small to star at a major college and now he must show he can make the conversion from shooting guard to point guard.

Dixon has fought to snuff out doubts and doubters. Nothing has changed during his first week of training camp and probably won’t during the preseason.

“The minutes are there but I have to fight,” Dixon said. “I really want to play and contribute to this team. I’m going to do anything in my power to get some minutes. … I’m going to continue to be aggressive on both ends of the floor.”

Defensive stalwart Tyronn Lue has ruthlessly pressed Dixon on both ends of the floor, prompting Dixon to press back instead of passing out of trouble or laying back on defense and forcing Lue to shoot from the outside. The same battles have happened with Larry Hughes, Chris Whitney and everyone else who plays against Dixon.

Collins “wants me to take it easy at times,” Dixon said. “Ty Lue’s pressing me full-court on defense when I bring the ball up the court and he doesn’t want me to work as hard, but that’s my competitive nature coming out. Somebody pushing up on me like that, I’ve got to try my best to get my team in the offense and to battle him as much as possible. They’ve been pushing me all week long and I’m going to continue to push them.”

Despite all he’s achieved, Dixon cannot help but think back to draft night, when the Wizards used the 17th pick they acquired for trading Courtney Alexander to choose him. Immediately critics said they wasted the pick, taking Dixon too soon.

Then, when the Wizards said they’d use Dixon at point guard, more doubt arose. How could such a proficient scorer get used to setting the offense for others when, for the past few years, he was the beneficiary of plays being called for him? Wait and see, he said.

“I’m going to continue to do what’s best for me and that’s scoring the ball,” Dixon said.

Coaches said Dixon has a learning curve as far as making the adjustment to point guard. They’re helping make things easier for him and Hughes, also a converted shooting guard, by designing an offense so they can play off the ball at times to maximize their offensive strengths. It is on defense when Dixon and Hughes will play the point, where they can pressure the ball.

“Our offense is set up where if (Dixon) throws that pass and gets through (the lane), he’s going to be coming off screens and then that’s when he’s going to be at his best,” Collins said.

Lue and Whitney have taken it upon themselves to help Dixon, even though he could cut into their playing time. Jordan, who calls Dixon “Little Man,” also has taken a liking to Dixon and routinely instructs him about the NBA’s nuances and how to work in harmony with certain players.

“I have a lot of people to learn from and I have to take advantage of that,” Dixon said.