AJ Dybantsa missed the chance to share the floor for the Washington Wizards’ season opener, but what Anthony Davis did in his debut should have the rookie feeling a whole lot better about what’s ahead.
Dybantsa sat out with an ankle injury while watching from the bench, and Davis made it easy to imagine how much easier life can get for a young player when a veteran big man is rolling. In Wednesday night’s win over the Milwaukee Bucks, Davis looked every bit like the force Washington hoped it was getting.
He put together a huge line: 34 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block. Davis shot 11-of-20 from the field and 1-of-3 from beyond the three-point arc, giving the Wizards exactly the kind of punch that can reshape a game and, by extension, lighten the load on a rookie.
That matters for Dybantsa because rookies are already trying to catch up to the speed and physicality of the NBA. When a player like Davis is putting constant pressure on a defense, that changes everything. Washington also has Trae Young drawing attention, and the more those two force defenses to react, the more space opens up for Dybantsa to work with.
The reality is Davis has dealt with health issues over the years, and Washington acquired him last season knowing there was risk attached. He didn’t make his debut for the team until Wednesday because he wasn’t available. But the payoff was obvious right away.
If Davis can keep giving the Wizards nights like this, even if not at this exact level every game, Dybantsa should benefit from it. The better Davis performs, the less pressure lands on the rookie. And on this night, Davis gave Washington - and especially Dybantsa - a very encouraging glimpse of how that can look.
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Wizards Fans Still Have One Frustrating Wait With AJ Dybantsa
AJ Dybantsas arrival in Washington has already had to take a detour, with the Wizards No. 1 draft pick sidelined after an ankle injury in the final preseason game. The setback came at an awkward time for a franchise trying to build momentum around a top prospect, even if the team has continued to frame the injury as something that should not linger long-term.
For now, the wait is the frustrating part for Wizards fans who were hoping to see their new centerpiece right away. Dybantsa is still expected to make his NBA debut later in the season, and the buzz around him has only grown after Trae Young spoke highly of his skill and upside during the preseason. [Read more 🡒]
Wizards Opener Raised One Huge Question About This Teams Ceiling
The Wizards opened the season by knocking off the Bucks 128-116, a result that immediately gives this group a different kind of early-season buzz. Anthony Davis made the kind of first impression teams hope for when they bring in a centerpiece, powering Washington with 34 points and 12 rebounds in a debut that matched a franchise mark and gave the lineup a clear focal point on both ends.
Still, the performance also left one obvious question hanging over the win. Washington did enough to control the night, but the offense was choppy from deep, finishing under 30 percent from three and getting little help from key perimeter looks, which is the sort of issue that can travel from a feel-good opener into a much tougher conversation about how high this team can climb. [Read more 🡒]
Trae Young Already Changed What The Wizards Look Like
The Wizards opened their season with a win over the Bucks, and Trae Youngs arrival already looked like the kind of move that can change the feel of a team. In 38 minutes, the veteran point guard steadied Washingtons offense, got everyone organized, and helped spark the second-half scoring burst that turned a competitive opener into something more convincing. For a roster trying to move from rebuilding to contending, that kind of control can matter as much as raw production.
Youngs influence went beyond the box score, even if the numbers still told an important part of the story. Washington has spent plenty of time searching for a lead guard who can settle possessions and keep the offense from drifting, and Young fit that description from the start against Milwaukee. If the Wizards are going to make this next phase feel real, nights like this are a strong reminder of why they brought him in. [Read more 🡒]