Anthony Davis did not need long to make Washington feel different.
In his long-awaited Wizards debut on Wednesday night against the Milwaukee Bucks, Davis delivered the kind of impact that turns curiosity into belief. He scored 34 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, dished out four assists and added two steals in a 128-116 win, announcing himself to a fan base that had been waiting for a real jolt.
The loudest moment came almost immediately. Before the first quarter was even finished, Capital One Arena was chanting “MVP.” For a player making his first appearance in a Wizards uniform after sitting out following his arrival the previous season, it was an astonishing reception.
Washington had acquired Davis during the 2025-26 season, but injuries kept him from ever taking the floor for the team. The Wizards also added Trae Young, giving the roster a much different look and far more star power than it had carried in recent years. That mattered in a major way for a franchise that had won only 50 games combined over the previous three seasons.
Davis wasted no time showing why the optimism is real. He scored 10 points in the opening quarter and kept attacking Milwaukee’s defense, quickly becoming the most dangerous player on the floor. The MVP chants started with more than four minutes left in the first period.
Washington’s shooting from outside was shaky for much of the night, but Davis kept the offense afloat when the Wizards needed a steadying force. His third quarter was the separator. He scored 18 of Washington’s 39 points in the period, using touches around the rim, trips to the foul line and midrange looks to keep the game within reach.
Then the Wizards put it away early in the fourth. A 21-2 run turned a competitive game into a comfortable double-digit victory.
Davis shot 10-of-19 from the field and 11-of-14 from the free-throw line in an efficient debut that came after a long stretch on the sideline. Young added 20 points and 13 assists, giving Washington a strong early glimpse of what the pairing might look like over the course of the season.
Afterward, Young made clear how high the expectations are for his new teammate. He said he wanted to help Davis compete for the league’s MVP award.
That kind of talk might sound bold after one game, but it also reflects the confidence inside the locker room. Davis has never lacked for talent. When he’s healthy, he can control a game on both ends with size, scoring touch and defensive presence.
The real question has always been availability. Injuries limited Davis to just 29 combined games over the previous two seasons, which made this return even more meaningful.
One performance obviously does not erase that concern, but Wednesday was a strong first step. Davis looked sharp, aggressive and fully engaged.
He also made it clear that the moment mattered to him. Afterward, he said he had not played a real game in nine months and described the night as emotional. The crowd’s reaction at Capital One Arena clearly got to him.
For Washington, the win does not suddenly change everything. The Wizards still have to build consistency, sort out chemistry and figure out how their younger players fit next to Davis and Young. There is also the matter of Davis’ future, since he could become a free agent after the season.
Still, the Wizards finally have what they have been missing: a player capable of taking over a game and giving the building a pulse. On Wednesday, Davis did both.
He barely needed a quarter to win over Washington.
In Other News...
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Dalton Knecht is back on the market after the Los Angeles Lakers waived the former first-rounder before the 2026-27 regular season, and the early buzz around his next stop has been plenty of familiar-name teams. Multiple reports have linked Knecht to the Knicks, Timberwolves, Kings and Raptors, with Washington also mentioned as a possible landing spot as clubs look at a player who still carries real two-way upside.
For the Wizards, it is the kind of low-risk swing that fits the broader search for young talent with room to grow. There is no official deal yet, and the market around Knecht could move quickly once teams sort through their two-way spots, but the fact that Washington is even in the conversation says something about how a fresh start might appeal to both sides. [Read more 🡒]
Bub Carrington Already Gives The Wizards Something They Clearly Need
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Carringtons value is tied less to force at the rim than to what he can do from deeper areas, and that part of his game is supposed to help the Wizards right away. He shot 40.8 percent from three-point range last season, and even with some questions about his finishing inside the paint, that kind of shooting gives Washington another piece it can build around as it looks for cleaner possessions and more reliable scoring options. [Read more 🡒]
Raptors Face An Early Road Test Their Defense Can't Fake
The first road test of the season comes quickly for Toronto, and it lands in Washington with a chance to see whether the Raptors defense can travel as well as it has looked at home. The Wizards have leaned into a blend of youth and experience, bringing in veterans Anthony Davis and Trae Young to steady a young core that is still trying to find its footing, while Toronto comes in with the kind of defensive depth that can make even a familiar opponent feel uncomfortable.
Washingtons biggest issue has been its shooting, and that puts extra pressure on every possession when the Raptors are across the floor. The matchup also carries a personnel wrinkle on the Wizards side, with AJ unavailable for the game, which only narrows the room for error as they try to keep pace with a Toronto team that looks built to make opponents work for every clean look. [Read more 🡒]