Defensive playmaking
Johnny Davis’ strongest NBA skill currently is his individual defense. He has good size and strength for his position, helping him stay in front of perimeter players and guard multiple positions. He doesn’t get pushed around easily and he works hard on the defensive end, making him a tough matchup. He needs to continue working on his defensive building blocks and embrace his role as a defensive stopper.
The calling card for Davis’ game is the defense. If he is going to get consistent minutes for the Wizards, it will be for his defensive chops. He showed his upside on that end in the Summer League as well. He is aggressive, can pressure the ball, and likes to bother shots.
One area he needs to show improvement at the NBA level is defensive playmaking. Despite being an engaged defender, he can still be more active as a help defender. He needs to get into the passing lanes, bother drivers, and protect the rim as a weakside defender. He had 1.2 steals and 0.5 blocks per game for the Capital City Go-Go last season. Those numbers are decent but if he can add a little more help plays to his game, his defensive potential will hit another level.
This is especially important since Davis is a good transition player. If he can force more turnovers and missed shots, this will give him an opportunity to run the floor and get easy buckets on the other end. For a player who struggles in the half-court, going on fast breaks to help boost his efficiency is a great way to gain his confidence.