Entering Tuesday, Washington Wizards first-round draft pick Johnny Davis appeared in more commercials (2) this season than he played minutes (0). Three games into the season, “DNP-coach’s decision” was next to Davis’s name in the box score.
That all changed against the Detroit Pistons. Davis made his NBA debut with 2:54 remaining in the fourth quarter as the Wizards led 114-92.
Davis finished the game, missing both field goal attempts, including a three. However, he did record his first career rebound. The Wizards won 120-99.
The start of Davis’s career has been peculiar. Washington selected him 10th overall in June’s draft after being named Big Ten Player of the Year while at Wisconsin the season prior.
However, he stumbled through three games in the Summer League in Las Vegas. His struggles continued into the preseason. Unimpressive in summer league and preseason, Davis has started the regular season buried on the depth chart behind Bradley Beal, Monte Morris, Will Barton, and Delon Wright.
Aside from second-overall draft pick Chet Holmgren, who is out for the season with a foot injury, Davis was the only lottery draft pick not to appear in a game. Of the 13 healthy lottery picks, 11 are averaging at least 12.5, and seven playing at least 20.5 minutes per game.
It took a blowout win for Davis to get on the floor. That’s despite Corey Kispert having an ankle sprain and being unable to play so far this season.
With few opportunities to play, Wizards head coach Wes Unseld said it’s possible Davis could be sent to the G-League to get more playing time, according to Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington.
Davis is out of the rotation. Sending him to the Capital City Go-Go may actually be best for his development. However, it’s not often a lottery pick gets sent to the G-League.
Davis needs to improve his ball handling while adding speed and agility to his offensive skill set.
The G-League season starts in less than two weeks on Nov. 5. Davis could be on the court when the Go-Go host the Raptors 905 at the Entertainment and Sports Arena in D.C.
