Washington Wizards forward Anthony Davis. Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Anthony Davis breaks silence on disappointment following Wizards trade

By Yagya Bhargava | Last updated Apr 9, 2026 11:17 AM ET

Anthony Davis didn't expect things to unfold the way they did in Dallas. The 33-year-old forward appeared in just 29 games with the Dallas Mavericks while dealing with 18 separate injuries.

That kind of availability killed what was supposed to be a win-now situation, and at his age, Davis knows every season counts more than the last.

Anthony Davis admits surprising first reaction to Wizards trade

Then came the trade that caught him completely off guard. The Washington Wizards were not exactly the destination he saw coming, and he didn't hide his confusion when the news broke.

Davis opened up about his initial reaction during an appearance on "The Draymond Green Show," admitting the move left him scratching his head.

"I didn't understand. I was one of those guys too. It was like, damn, Washington? Like, what? But then when you get here, you look at the facility. You look at the little details, the team. It's not bad," Davis said.

"I like the young guys on the team. These [expletive] can play. They play hard. They're not afraid of the moment. They're not scared. These guys can really hoop. So, for me, when I talk to the GM, when I talk to the owner, when I talk to the president, I'm always going to be about winning."

Washington has spent years lingering near the bottom of the standings. For a veteran still chasing titles, landing there doesn't scream immediate contention. Davis called himself a "young 33" but made it crystal clear he wants to compete now, not sit through a rebuild.

He also acknowledged the uphill climb; teams don't go from basement dwellers to championship threats in one offseason. Still, the Wizards made moves. Adding Trae Young brought a legitimate scoring punch, and young pieces like Alex Sarr and Kyshawn George give the roster some upside. The problem is injuries kept Davis and Young off the court together, so there's no real read on how this group fits yet.

Yagya Bhargava

Yagya Bhargava began his professional journey as a chef, but his passion for sports eventually led him into sports journalism. He started writing in 2022 and has since published more than 5,000 articles covering the NFL and NBA. Along the way, he’s worked with outlets like The Cold Wire, Sportskeeda, The SportsRush, and The Big Lead

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