Pa Rory Maher | on November 10, 2026 at 11:30 am
Star big man Anthony Davis returned to action Monday in Detroit after missing Wizardsin the previous two games with a sprained right ankle and had his best individual performance since joining the team with 44 points (on 16-of-21 shooting) and 13 rebounds in 34 minutes.
However, the 33-year-old forward/center wasn’t in a celebratory mood afterward as the Wizards lost their fourth straight game. Davis singled out the team’s defense as the main culprit in the four-game skid, according to Josh Robbins of The Athletic (free link).
“everything” Davis said.We don’t bounce back. We’re giving up open 3s. We row. We don’t guard the ball. So that’s all. Transition. That’s all right now.”
Here’s more about Wizards:
- In a special story to The Athletic (free link), Robbins spoke with former No. 1 overall pick Davis, Patrick Ewing (now Wizards assistant coach), Deandre Ayton, John Wall, Cade Cunningham and Paolo Bunchera about what advice they would give A. Ya. Dybantswho was the top pick in the draft in June. “You have to stay humble, work hard and keep believing in yourself” said Ewing.I don’t care what you choose. You will have highs and you will have lows. You can’t get too high when things are going well, but you can’t get too low either. The guy we have is a special talent. Being the first choice is a special talent. But you have to keep doing all the things that made you the #1 choice. In some moments, things will not be easy. Everything will be fine in points. But stay strong and just keep working and keep believing in yourself.”
- Both Wall and Bunchera advised Dibanca to “be yourself” while remaining open to ways to improve. According to Robbins, Cunningham said he would tell Dibanza to focus on himself and not his fellow 2026 draftees. “Just run your own race” said Cunningham.A lot of times you see other guys in your class who can get things going. In my case, my rookie year was tough and we didn’t win many games. Watching the other guys in my class win and enjoy it all, there were times when I was like, “Man, that’s got to be me.” But I had to realize that I just had to stay on my own path and figure it out and then things would come to me. So I would say just stay in your lane and soak up as much as you can from your vets and just believe in who you are and what led you to be the #1 pick.”
- Robbins of The Athletic (free link) recently shared 10 thoughts on the team’s first 10 games of the season. The article was published before Monday’s game as the Wizards fell to 4-7.
