The Washington Wizards have spent the past several seasons searching for reasons to believe their rebuild is headed in the right direction. Thursday night offered their fans an encouraging glimpse of what the future could look like. With Anthony Davis, Trae Young and No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa sharing the floor for the first time, Washington defeated the defending NBA champion New York Knicks 111-109 in its preseason opener at Madison Square Garden.
It may have been just a preseason game, but for Wizards fans who have endured several difficult seasons, Thursday's performance offered something they haven't had much of lately: excitement. Davis, Young and Dybantsa combined for 42 points, providing an early look at the potential of Washington's revamped roster. For Davis, Thursday marked his long-awaited debut in a Wizards uniform after arriving from the Dallas Mavericks in a trade last season.
The 10-time All-Star had not played in an NBA game since Jan. 8, 2026, after suffering ligament damage in his left hand. The 10-time All-Star wasted little time making his presence felt. Davis finished with a team-high 16 points, seven rebounds, two assists and a block in just under 17 minutes of action.
He shot 6-of-11 from the field and knocked down two of his three attempts from beyond the arc. It was an encouraging performance for Davis, who showed flashes of the player who has been one of the NBA's most dominant big men when healthy. But while his debut gave Wizards fans plenty of reasons for optimism, it also came with a familiar question: Can he stay on the court?
Injuries have been a major concern throughout his career, and Washington will need to manage his workload carefully if it hopes to keep him healthy over the course of the season. But when Davis is available, his ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor gives the Wizards something they haven't consistently had during their rebuild. And let's not forget about his new running mate, Trae Young.
The four-time All-Star finished with 15 points, four assists and two steals in just over 17 minutes, connecting on three 3-pointers. His outside shooting and ability to create opportunities for teammates could be especially valuable for a Washington roster filled with young players still developing their offensive games. Young appeared in only five games for the Wizards last season after being traded from Atlanta, making Thursday one of the first opportunities for fans to see how he might operate alongside the team's newest additions.
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