The Washington Wizards’ new All-Star pairing of Trae Young and Anthony Davis has yet to debut for the franchise since being acquired. However, Wizards General Manager Will Dawkins mentioned that both players would be evaluated during All-Star Weekend. If those checkups went well, both could debut in the latter part of the season. Now, the timelines are once again under construction, as both players are still not quite ready to begin their Washington tenure.
Wizards New All-Star Pair Still Without Clear Debut Timeline
Will Washington fans get to see the newest era of Wizards basketball begin this season? At this point, it’s all very much up in the air. As of right now, neither Young nor Davis is anywhere close to playing. However, not all hope is completely lost.
Young’s Timeline
The four-time All-Star has been with Washington since mid-January after being traded from the Atlanta Hawks. With multiple injuries this season, the 2024-25 assist leader has appeared on the court only 10 times during the 2025-26 campaign. While he hasn’t stepped on the court, Young has been very active with his new teammates. He’s been on the sideline since his trade, and has had lots of positives to say about younger players and his short time in the DMV.
Wizards’ Head Coach Brian Keefe said Young “still isn’t cleared for contact.” So, it’s fair to ask if anyone should expect to see the guard on the court for the remainder of the season. It’s unfortunate. That being said, it may be the best course of action. The guard himself mentioned he wanted to play again this season in his opening press conference, but if it’s at risk of furthering his injury, the front office will forbid it.
Over his 10 games this season, Young averaged 19.3 points and 8.9 rebounds on 41.5% from the field and 30.5% from three.
Davis’ Injury Concern
Nov 8, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Injured Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis looks on from the bench during a timeout against the Washington Wizards in the second half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Davis has had his fair share of injuries these past few seasons. With that, Washington will be extra cautious with his return. The 10-time NBA All-Star was sent to D.C right before the deadline, and immediately reports came out that Davis would likely sit for the rest of the season. In turn, he would be fully healthy for the 2025-26 campaign. However, after Dawkins’ comments, fans were filled with hope that they would see the team fully healthy at least once this season. Now, however, Washington fans can almost feel the burden of Davis’ injury on themselves. Will they see the Wizards fully healthy at all this season?
Davis is also not cleared for contact. On a positive note, he has arrived in D.C. He attended the team’s first practice after the break and should be joining the sideline moving forward during games. Over his 20 games this season, the five-time All-NBA selection averaged 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks.
The Bright Side
With all this negativity, let’s flip the script. Both players will continue to be evaluated, with chances growing higher and higher for their debuts. While playing is solely based on how rehab progresses, both players could still debut before the season ends.
Washington is in the midst of a brutal tank battle, but should secure a top-three selection if both All-Stars sit out the remainder of the season. However, not all hope for some good outings is lost. Leading up to the break, Washington had some great outings. The young talent and bench were playing exceptionally well, beating the Detroit Pistons at full strength before the festive weekend. So while Davis and Young may not appear this season, Washington basketball continues to trend in the right direction.
Featured Image:Â Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images