The Washington Wizards’ 10th overall selection in the 2022 NBA Draft, Johnny Davis has had a rough year as an NBA player. Following a very productive sophomore season as a collegiate player at Wisconsin, Davis failed to bring the same level of effectiveness to the NBA so far. After spending the majority of the year in the G League last season, Davis is poised to have a bigger role for Washington this year. The Wizards fans are looking forward to what the 21-year-old shooting guard can do to justify the draft pick.
As the Washington Wizards drifted further away from the playoffs last season, Davis’ role started expanding exponentially. After playing exclusively in garbage time and averaging less than five minutes per game in 13 appearances before the All-Star break, Davis took on more playing time post-All-Star break.
In March and April, Davis played in 15 games, averaging 24 minutes per appearance. In these games, he averaged 9.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.7 assists on 39.2% shooting from the field and 24.2% shooting from three.
However, for a rookie, it’s more about the flashes rather than the statistical profile. And Davis showed enough flashes toward the end of the season to give the Wizards fans some hope for the future.
Davis came into the Las Vegas Summer League with some momentum from the regular season. His performance there was a mixed bag. His effort and defensive activity were impressive but his offensive efficiency and shot-making left plenty to be desired.
Fortunately for Johnny Davis, the Washington Wizards are in rebuilding mode for the next few years. The pressure is off, the organization has patience, and Davis has a path to consistent playing time. However, he needs to seize this opportunity and continue his development. These are the three areas he needs to show more to prove he is a rotation-worthy NBA player for a long time.