The butterflies in their stomachs are a promising sign for this year’s Washington Wizards. The new-look squad — led by No. 1 pick A.J. Dybantsa and All-Star veterans Trae Young and Anthony Davis — is eager to take the court for their season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.
But Dybantsa, despite his best efforts, won’t be on the court. The No. 1 pick in this year’s draft is still recovering from an ankle sprain suffered during the preseason.
Coach Brian Keefe called the highly touted rookie “day-to-day.”
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“It’s tough; he’s going to miss his rookie debut. I know he’s sick about it,” said Khris Middleton, another former All-Star who joined the Wizards this offseason. “I know he’s working, but we have a lot of talent, a lot of guys ready to step up. We just hope A.J.’s ready to get back out there soon.”
The rookies aren’t the only ones allowed to feel eager for the start of a new season. Wednesday’s opener has been circled on the calendar for months. Basketball is their life. A summer of practices, conditioning and team-building led to this moment.
“These guys put a lot of work in in the offseason,” Keefe said. “We talked about this: the intentionality of working on their own game. But what I’ve been really proud of is the intentionality to come together as a group. We’re all excited to see them go out there as a group together and get a chance to show who they are.”
The anticipation has been particularly potent for Davis. He didn’t suit up for the Wizards after joining the team through a midseason trade in February. A hand injury caused him to miss the final four months of the season.
The intervening nine months have featured analysts and fans speculating whether Davis can stay healthy — “Street Clothes” has become one of his more popular nicknames — and whether he’d stick with the Wizards long-term.
Neither question will be answered on Wednesday, but it marks a major step forward.
“To go back and play an actual, meaningful game is going to be emotional,” Davis said Tuesday. “But we’re going to have a lot of fun with it. I’m excited to go out there.”
For Davis, his 15th season opener is like “the first day of school.” He’s not the only one feeling warm and fuzzy at the thought of a fresh start.
“I think everybody does [get butterflies,]” Keefe said. “It’s a good thing. That means that you care, that you’re invested. That part of why people like sports … We all get there.”
Some players just “get there” more often than others. Opening night isn’t anything special for Middleton, but not because he’s underwhelmed by the occasion.
“I get butterflies for every game, not just opening night,” the 35-year-old said. “I don’t take it as a bad thing that I get nervous, anxious before opening night or before any game. I just love playing.”
Wizards fans find themselves in a similar spot. For the first time in five years, Washington has actual expectations for its basketball team.
Washington hasn’t won more than 18 games in three years. Another cellar-dwelling performance would be inexcusable with Young, Davis, Middleton and Dybantsa on the roster. Rising stars like Alex Sarr — the No. 2 pick in the 2024 draft — Tre Johnson and Will Riley are also expected to flash continued growth.
Their preseason win total is set at 35.5 at most sportsbooks. Stacking more than 35 wins would give the Wizards their best season since the 2017-18 season.
Keefe is keeping those expectations away from his players, though.
“You’re never going to put a ceiling on where we can go as a team, but the biggest thing we’re focused on is what we’re going to do and how we’re going to get there,” he said. “That’s working on the process, getting better every day, stacking good days together. That’s what we’re focused on.”
“We don’t put expectations on ourselves. We come in with the mindset each and every day: we want to work,” Davis said. “We’re going to grind and take it one day at a time. We’re not going to listen to the outside world. We’re not going to put that pressure on ourselves. No need, so early in the season, to be doing that.”
The Wizards follow Wednesday’s opener with another home game on Friday against the Toronto Raptors.
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