Johnny Davis is starting to look like a player who belongs in the spotlight again.
The former top-10 NBA draft pick, whose first run in the league never really got off the ground, has opened his overseas stint with Korfez Basket by flashing the kind of production that made him such an intriguing prospect in the first place. In his latest game, Davis put up 31 points and 12 rebounds, going 10 of 15 from the field and 3 of 4 from 3-point range.
That line came with more than just numbers on a page. Davis mixed in highlight dunks and difficult finishes, the sort of shot-making that suggests he’s not just surviving at this level - he’s controlling it.
Of course, one big game in Türkiye doesn’t erase the questions that followed him out of the NBA. The issues that held him back there were familiar ones: the outside shot, defensive impact, turnovers, scoring efficiency, and his ability to produce in the half court. Those flaws were part of his story for his entire career.
But through three games, Davis has given a much better version of himself. He’s averaging 22.3 points per game on 65.2% true shooting, while also posting a 3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. From deep, he’s hitting 50% of his 3s on 4.7 attempts per game.
He’s been active on the other end, too, with eight stocks and the kind of defensive presence he was supposed to bring when he came out of college.
There’s still a long season ahead, and there will almost certainly be bumps along the way. But for now, Davis is in a setting that seems to suit him.
There’s no fight for minutes, no rigid role to squeeze into. The offense runs through him, and he gets to play with freedom.
That doesn’t guarantee what comes next. It could lead to another NBA chance, or it could become a strong career overseas. Either way, Davis has already done something important: he’s rebuilt some real momentum in just a few games.
In Other News...
Wisconsin Earned A Huge Road Win And Got No Respect After
Wisconsin left Beaver Stadium with a road win that should have carried real weight, especially against a Penn State team playing in front of its home crowd. The Badgers did enough to leave with the result, and in a game like that, the opponent usually has no choice but to acknowledge what happened on the other sideline.
Instead, Penn State head coach Matt Campbell spent his postgame news conference dwelling almost entirely on his own teams mistakes. He pointed to missed chances, a touchdown given up after a player slipped, and a long list of opportunities Penn State failed to convert, while Wisconsins performance barely got a mention. For the Badgers, it was a reminder that a hard-earned win does not always come with the respect it deserves. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin May Already Have Its Most Reliable Weapon Off The Bench
Through four games, Darrion Dupree has gone from a depth option to one of Wisconsin footballs most dependable answers on offense. He has already led the team in rushing yards in a recent game and has chipped in as a receiver, showing the kind of versatility that can change how the Badgers structure their snaps. Even with a dropped pass in one outing, he kept producing, and his ability to force missed tackles has made him look like more than just a change-of-pace runner.
That matters for a Wisconsin offense still sorting through other moving parts, with Abu Sama dealing with injuries and Malachi Coleman searching for steadier production. In that kind of mix, Duprees emergence gives the Badgers a back who can stay on the field and handle different jobs without much drop-off. For a team looking for reliable offense, the bench may already be hiding one of its most useful weapons. [Read more 🡒]
Wisconsin Gets A Big Ten Test It Cant Afford To Waste
Wisconsin gets another Big Ten measuring stick Saturday morning when Michigan State comes to Madison for an 11:30 a.m. CT kickoff on Big Ten Network. With the conference schedule starting to settle in, this is the kind of game that can help define where the Badgers stand, and the lead-in has the usual layers: odds, broadcast details, a weather watch for Madison and a look back at how the series has played out over the years.
The injury reports should arrive the day before kickoff, and for Wisconsin that timing matters as much as anything else. Availability can shape a game like this before either team takes the field, especially in a matchup where the margins figure to be tight and the Badgers cannot afford to let a home conference date slip away without making the most of it. [Read more 🡒]