Anthony Davis & Trae Young Duo Gives Wizards Fans Hope For the Season

by Arop KualOctober 26, 2026, 2:53 pm >

Anthony Davis and Trae Young shared the court for the first time for the Washington Wizards after both were acquired last season. They showed the Wizards crowd why there is something to be excited about.

Both recorded double-doubles: Davis finished with 34 points and 12 rebounds, and Young with 20 points and 13 assists. Washington defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 128-116 in the season opener.

In the fourth quarter, the Wizards took over, outscoring the Bucks 38-23 in the final 12 minutes.

The supporting cast around the duo shined; eight players scored at least eight points, six of those in double figures. Kyshawn George had 18 points, Bilal Coulibaly and Deandre Ayton each scored 11, and Bub Carrington scored 10.

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“I was really pleased because it really was a team win,” said Wizards coach Brian Keefe. “There were so many guys who stepped up in different moments, and that’s what we’re going to need.”

Last season, the Wizards traded for Davis from the Dallas Mavericks. Davis did not play for the Wizards for the rest of the season after the team acquired him in a trade, due to injuries.

In his Wizards debut, Davis gave the crowd a reason to believe in the team, scoring 10 points and grabbing six rebounds in the first quarter before scoring 18 points in the third quarter.

“It felt great,” Davis said. “It’s been nine months since I played a real game, so it felt really good to be out on the floor and compete again with these guys – even better when you can get the win. I had so much fun tonight and a lot of emotion and a lot of energy.”

He also had four assists, two steals and one block and was 11-for-14 from the free-throw line.

When Davis went to the free-throw line for and-1, the crowd chanted “M-V-P, M-V-P.” It happened again later in the game.

“I just knew he was going to be ready, and I wasn’t surprised by what he did tonight,” Young said. “I don’t want to put too much pressure on him, but for me, having a guy like that, I want to help him get to MVP. Nights like tonight, and we continue to win games, he’s going to be in the conversation.”

For Young, this wasn’t his first game in a Wizards debut; like Davis, he was also traded from the Atlanta Hawks. Young appeared in five games before injuries ended his season.

“It has felt like forever playing a regular-season game,” Young said. “Five games in a season isn’t normal for me, especially just for one team.”

Young shot 4-for-13 from the field and missed all six three-point attempts. His 12 made free throws helped Washington build a 32-19 lead at the line. Young committed only one turnover, and in the fourth quarter he scored five points and had six assists.

“He draws a crowd,” Davis said. “They were putting two on the ball with him, and he was making the right passes. DA benefited a lot from it, me, Alex [Sarr], with some lobs. Anytime you’re putting two on the ball with a guy who can pass like that and who has a very high IQ, Trae Young, he’s going to pick you apart. And it’s our job to get in the right places to get him outlets, and then we just play from there.”

While the Wizards looked great with their new duo, the most anticipated player to debut is Number one draft pick AJ Dybantsa. Dybantsa missed the opener with a sprained left ankle he sustained in the team’s final preseason game against New Orleans.