Anthony Davis commits to Washington Wizards rebuild despite franchise’s struggles
Mar 8, 2026; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Washington Wizards forward Anthony Davis (23) watches during the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images
Anthony Davis is all-in on the Washington Wizards‘ rebuilding project. Despite landing on a franchise coming off the worst record in the NBA, the 33-year-old star has made his intentions clear: he’s committed to helping Washington return to relevance.
The Wizards went 17-65 in 2025-2026, marking their third straight 64-plus loss season. Yet Davis sees potential where others might see futility. « When the trade happened and I got here, I’ve said this place is not what people make it seem, » Davis said. « It’s a testament to the organization, the coaching staff, the players, everybody here. »
Fresh perspective on young talent
Davis arrived in Washington via an eight-player trade with Dallas in February, about a month after the Wizards acquired high-scoring guard Trae Young from Atlanta. The veteran forward’s initial reaction was mixed, but his assessment quickly evolved.
« I was like, ‘Damn, Washington?’ But when you get here, you look at the team, it’s like, ‘Not bad,' » Davis revealed on The Draymond Green Show. « I like the young guys on the team. These motherfu—s can play. They play hard. They’re not afraid of the moment. »
The former top pick has been recovering from a sprained finger on his non-shooting hand since January 8th, but his focus remains on the future. Davis praised his conversations with general manager Will Dawkins and ownership, expressing encouragement about the franchise’s direction.
Building championship culture
When asked about his future in Washington at the season-ending news conference, Davis displayed his characteristic humor while confirming his commitment. « Yeah, I’m under contract, » he said with a laugh. « I love my money. »
But beyond contractual obligations, Davis sees genuine opportunity. « I want to be able to have fun where I am. I want to compete where I am. I want to learn wherever I am — and this organization has that, » he explained.
Davis acknowledges the challenge ahead, noting the difficulty of transforming losing teams into championship contenders. « I know we have a lot of young guys, but like I said, I mentioned it about the young guys — how talented they are. Adding Trae and myself kind of can help change that, » he said.
The veteran plans to meet with Wizards management soon about his future and the organization’s plan for building a contender. « They know that I want to win, » Davis said. « I’m sure that they want to win as well. Nobody wants to lose. »
Comments (0)