Anthony Davis, Trae Young Record Franchise Feats in Wizards' Win

A strong fourth quarter helped the Washington Wizards open the 2026-27 regular season on the right foot, taking down the Milwaukee Bucks en route to a 12 point win inside Capital One Arena. With the team now above .500 for the first time since Nov. 28, 2022, it was who spearheaded the winning efforts that fueled the most optimism for the season ahead.

In his first regular season game in nearly 300 days, Anthony Davis made his Wizards debut a memorable one after totaling 34 points, 12 rebounds and four assists while shooting 55% from the floor in nearly 34 minutes.

Davis was the first player in double figures after ending the first quarter with ten points and six rebounds, helping the Wizards take the lead back over the last six minutes. Yet that preceded a monster third quarter where Davis accounted for nearly half of the team's 39 points after playing all 12 minutes and pouring in 18 points on 62.5% shooting -- good enough to spark 'MVP' chants after going 8-of-11 from the free throw line.

"I think our guards did a good job of creating advantages for me and also getting the ball in early. Just being aggressive. Team wanted me to be aggressive. I wanted to be aggressive just finding the right spots, the mismatches knowing that a lot of their bigs [are] foul prone."

His game-high 34 points also marked the most in a debut in franchise history since Antawn Jamison matched that total on Nov. 3, 2004. The 12 rebounds to go with it made Davis the first in franchise history to record a 30-10 game in his Washington debut, while becoming the first to notch a double-double in a debut since Marvin Bagley III did so on Jan. 18, 2024.

"Just his mentality and conversations around the team, I just knew he was going to be ready," Young said of Davis. "I wasn't surprised about what he did tonight. I don't want to put too much pressure on him -- having a guy like that, I want to help him get the MVP." 

Young's night, alongside Davis, helped the duo become the first set of Wizards' teammates to record double-doubles on opening night since the 2022 season.

Head coach Brian Keefe pointed to Young's ability to get the Wizards "organized," crediting his history as a facilitator as reason why it translates for a team that eyes tempo. Yet after leading the NBA in turnovers through preseason, Young knew it wouldn't translate into the regular season even if it loomed as a concern. The four-time All Star backed it up after finishing with just one turnover in 38 minutes.

Young has now recorded at least 20 points in each of his last two games in a Wizards uniform, though Wednesday's came courtesy of Young converting 75% of his 16 free throw attempts while shooting 30.8% from the field and 0-for-6 from three point.

The good news is Washington knows they will have another impact piece to add to the lineup when AJ Dybantsa is cleared from his rookie ankle to make his long awaited NBA debut. Whether that materializes when the Wizards return to the court next on Friday night to take on Kawhi Leonard, Scottie Barnes and the Toronto Raptors back at home will be the question through the week,