LeBron James Intrigued by Anthony Davis' Move to Rebuilding Wizards

Lakers star weighs in on Washington's future with Davis and Trae Young leading the charge.

Feb. 24, 2026 at 7:55am

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LeBron James expressed interest in seeing how the Washington Wizards' roster, featuring new additions Anthony Davis and Trae Young, comes together next season. While both stars are currently dealing with injuries, James highlighted the team's young talent and said he's "very intrigued" to watch the Wizards' rebuild unfold.

Why it matters

The Wizards' blockbuster trade for Davis was a surprising move, as the star big man had just joined the Dallas Mavericks last year after winning a title alongside James on the Lakers. James' comments suggest he's keeping a close eye on his former teammate's new situation and the Wizards' efforts to build a contender around Davis and Young.

The details

The Wizards acquired Davis in a deadline deal this month, sending an assortment of role players and draft capital to the Mavericks. Davis joins Young as the second injured star Washington has taken a chance on, with both players expected to miss the remainder of this season. Despite the injury concerns, James praised the Wizards' young talent, including Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, and Tre Johnson.

  • The Wizards acquired Anthony Davis in a trade earlier this month.

The players

LeBron James

A four-time NBA champion and four-time MVP who currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Anthony Davis

A 10-time NBA All-Star who was recently traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Washington Wizards.

Trae Young

A two-time NBA All-Star who was also recently acquired by the Wizards and is currently dealing with an injury.

Cooper Flagg

A rookie phenom who the Mavericks are now building around after the Davis trade.

Alex Sarr

A young player on the Wizards' roster that James praised for his "great touch" and "feel for the game."

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What they’re saying

“Very interesting, very interesting. I'm very intrigued, and I'm very interested to see what happens and how this all comes about.”

— LeBron James

“With AD, obviously, we know the talent level is out of this world. And Trae, his ability to play the pick-and-roll game, his ability to shoot the ball, his lob threat.”

— LeBron James

“I love the young kid from France that they have on their team, too. We just played him, [Alex] Sarr. ... Great touch, great feel for the game.”

— LeBron James

What’s next

The Wizards will look to get Davis and Young healthy and integrated into the team's young core as they aim to build a contender for the 2026-27 season.

The takeaway

LeBron James' interest in the Wizards' rebuild suggests the team has generated some optimism around the league with its recent moves, even if success may hinge on the health and motivation of its new star acquisitions.