Anthony Davis, AJ Dybantsa, and Trae Young finally hit the court together for the Washington Wizards’ “Big 3” debut on Thursday night, and if you blinked, you might have missed AD going absolutely wild. The big man came out swinging, leading all players against the Knicks with 16 points in just 17 minutes of action, giving D.C. a serious shot of optimism about a squad that hasn’t made the Eastern Conference bracket in six years.
AD Is Still AD, No Matter the Jersey
Davis has been a Wizard since February, but Thursday was the first time we actually saw him suit up, and man, was it worth the wait. He proved he can still be the best player on the court when he’s at his best. Yeah, I know, it’s preseason, but that kind of efficiency in limited minutes? That’s the stuff you want to see. He rounded out his line with seven rebounds, two assists, and a block, showing he’s still a force on both ends.
What’s really interesting is he started at power forward right next to Deandre Ayton, who pulled down 10 boards himself. History says Davis likes playing the four with another big by his side, so if Ayton keeps crashing the glass like that, this “double-big” experiment could actually work for Coach Brian Keefe. Look, there’s always chatter around Davis with those trade rumors and his fit on the Wizards’ long-term timeline, but as long as he’s healthy and on the floor, he gives them the kind of big man threat they’ve been missing for ages.
This Team Can Absolutely Splash From Deep
Beyond Davis’s individual brilliance, the Wizards showed some serious potential from beyond the arc. As a team, they shot a scorching 13-of-33 from deep, hitting 39 percent in the preseason game. You’ve got to be hyped about an offense that could be super dynamic with a healthy Davis and Young running the show.
And get this: Anthony Davis, who hasn’t shot over 30 percent from three-point range in a full NBA season since 2019-20, went 2-of-3 from deep against the Knicks. If that’s a sign of improved shooting from him this coming season, it changes everything for Keefe’s unit. It would totally open up the floor, letting him run that Ayton-at-center lineup without having to sweat spacing issues.
This “Big 3” debut offered some serious glimpses into what could be a thrilling season for the Wizards. Keep your eyes peeled for more action from Dybantsa, Young, and Davis as they continue to gel and prove just how much noise they can make.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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