Anthony Davis arrives at the Washington Wizards as the latest headline in a career that has combined transcendent talent, team-changing trades, and recurring injury questions. A No. 1 overall pick out of Kentucky in 2012, Davis has won an NBA title, collected multiple All-NBA and All-Defensive selections, and remained one of the league’s most feared rim protectors, even as his availability has repeatedly been a concern.
Where Davis stands now
On February 4, 2026, the Dallas Mavericks agreed to send Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards in an eight-player deal that also moved several draft picks and role players, a trade reported by major league insiders. The move closed a turbulent chapter that began a year earlier when Davis was part of a blockbuster, three-team trade that sent him from the Los Angeles Lakers to Dallas. For the Wizards, the acquisition is a clear, aggressive bet: they hope Davis’ defensive presence and playoff experience accelerate a rebuild into contention.
"I was shocked," Davis said after the trade, reflecting the abruptness many players feel in modern roster life.
A concise career arc
Early promise and Kentucky stardom
Davis exploded onto the national scene at Kentucky, where he led the Wildcats to the 2012 NCAA championship and established himself as a generational defensive talent, finishing the season with one of the highest single-season block totals in college history. He entered the NBA as the first overall pick, bringing length, shot-blocking, and perimeter mobility that were rare for a 6-foot-10 big man.
New Orleans, individual excellence, and franchise identity
With New Orleans, Davis became a perennial All-Star and statistical leader, winning three NBA blocks titles early in his career and compiling All-NBA honors. He posted career averages that, through the 2025-26 season, stand at roughly 24.0 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game, numbers that underline a two-way impact.
Lakers chapter, championship, and a mixed ending
Traded to Los Angeles in 2019, Davis paired with LeBron James to deliver the Lakers an NBA championship in 2020. He continued to collect individual awards and highlight-reel performances, but his Lakers tenure was marred by intermittent injuries that limited playoff runs and long stretches of continuity. In February 2025, the Lakers and Mavericks executed a high-profile swap that moved Davis to Dallas and Luka Dončić to Los Angeles, a seismic change for both franchises.
The Mavericks period, injuries, and medical interventions
Davis’ time in Dallas was shaped more by fits and stops than long runs of full health. He delivered flashes of elite play for the Mavericks when available, but a sequence of injuries—an adductor strain early in his Mavericks debut, later groin issues, a hand problem, and ultimately a detached retina discovered in the offseason—limited his court time.
- Davis averaged about 20 points and 11 rebounds in the 2025-26 season in limited games prior to the February 2026 trade, numbers that show he can still produce when fit.
- He underwent surgery to repair a detached retina in the 2025 offseason and, as a result, will wear protective eyewear during games going forward, a precaution his doctors mandated.
The retina surgery, and the decision to adopt protective goggles, is a stark reminder of the physical toll the NBA exacts on big men who play with intensity at the rim.
Playing style and on-court value
Anthony Davis is at his best as a defensive anchor who can defend multiple positions, alter shots around the rim, and step into midrange or short corner jumpers to relieve pressure in modern spacing schemes. He offers:
- Elite rim protection and shot-blocking instincts, combined with lateral mobility that lets him switch onto smaller players.
- A face-up scoring ability and free-throw volume that keep defenses honest.
- Versatility to operate at center or power forward, depending on lineups.
At his peak, Davis changes how opponents attack the paint, and his presence has routinely improved team defensive metrics when he is on the floor.
The debate over value and durability
There are two competing narratives around Davis. Supporters point to his rarity, a 6-foot-10 rim protector who can also score at a high level, his championship pedigree, and his history of All-NBA honors. Critics counter that repeated injuries have limited his availability in crucial stretches, raising questions about whether long-term, top-tier contracts deliver proportional team returns.
Both views have statistical anchors: his per-minute and per-possession numbers remain excellent, yet his games-played totals have trended downward in seasons when injuries clustered.
Contracts, money, and roster fit
Davis has been among the league’s higher-paid players since signing lucrative extensions, and his contracts have been structured to reflect All-NBA status and market value. That pay, plus the risk of recurring injuries, creates front-office trade-offs as teams weigh present competitiveness against salary flexibility and long-term planning.
How Washington views Davis, and short-term outlook
The Wizards, by bringing in Davis, signal a win-now tilt, at least in roster construction and intent. For Davis, the fit will depend on workload management, health protocols, and how the coaching staff deploys him alongside the Wizards’ backcourt pacing and spacing. If Davis can stay on the court and pair his rim protection with efficient scoring, Washington could see a meaningful defensive upgrade and a veteran presence for younger pieces.
Quick statistical snapshot
Category | Career Average (through 2025-26) | 2025-26 season (partial) |
|---|---|---|
Points per game | 24.0 | ~20.4 |
Rebounds per game | 10.7 | ~11.1 |
Blocks per game | 2.3 | ~1.7 |
Games played (career) | 800+ | 20-30 (season-to-date) |
Honors and milestones
- NCAA champion and Final Four Most Outstanding Player (2012), at Kentucky.
- NBA champion with the Lakers (2020).
- Multiple All-NBA and All-Defensive team selections.
- Several All-Star appearances and an All-Star MVP.
Multiple viewpoints on the February 2026 trade
- Proponents of the deal say the Wizards acquired an instantly transforming defensive piece with championship experience, the kind of player who can make a roster younger players rally around.
- Skeptics caution that the Wizards are taking on injury risk and salary cost for a player whose availability has been uneven, and that moving so many picks or bench assets for a player of Davis’ profile compresses future flexibility.
What to watch next
- Health and minutes, especially given Davis’ recent eye surgery and history of groin and adductor issues.
- How the Wizards manage his role, whether they protect him with load management, and how they pair him with shooters and rim-runner teammates.
- Whether Washington’s broader roster moves before and after the trade complement or undermine Davis’ strengths.
Conclusion
Anthony Davis remains one of the NBA’s most intriguing talents: a generational defender with a multifaceted scoring game, yet a player whose story is also defined by medical interventions and roster motion. His arrival in Washington opens a new chapter that will be judged by availability and fit, the two factors that have most often shaped the arc of his career. For teams and fans, Davis poses a familiar, consequential question: when healthy, he can tilt a playoff series, but can he be counted on to stay healthy long enough to matter?