Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Jordan Davis
AJ Dybantsa's early returns show the rookie is bought in and standing out in his role
When it was announced before the season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks that the number one overall pick from the 2026 NBA Draft, AJ Dybantsa, would miss his debut, it understandably left many disappointed. Dybantsa shut down the sadness from the Wiz faithful when he said: “Took me 19 years to get here. A few more days ain’t nothing,” showing a sense of confidence that the rookie has had his entire career to get to this spot.
Jalen Williams injury deals an emotional blow to OKC Thunder. 'We're not doing great'
Jalen Williams raised both thumbs toward the rafters as 18,203 fans rose to support him. Williams was stretchered off the court after suffering a lower left leg injury late in the fourth quarter of the OKC Thunder's 108-101 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night at Paycom Center. With 1:15 remaining, Williams attempted a dunk and was fouled by Kris Dunn, who was assessed a flagrant-1 foul. Williams landed awkwardly on his left leg and immediately needed assistance from medical personnel.
Justin Champagnie is exceeding expectations on the Wizards by impacting winning
Admittedly, Justin Champagnie wasn't high on preseason lists from fans and media alike as a reason the Washington Wizards would turn the team around enough to make their first playoff berth since 2021. And on a team with the firepower of All-Stars Trae Young and Anthony Davis, plus the No. 1 overall pick in AJ Dybantsa, it’s understandable that Champagnie didn’t dominate the conversation. Well, through the first three games, he should now.
Will Riley should be in the Wizards' rotation, but he isn't
After being selected by the Washington Wizards 21st overall in 2025, forward Will Riley impressed in his rookie season. He averaged 10.3 points per game, including 18 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game over seven contests in April. He was one of the positive takeaways from Washington's dismal 2025-26 season. On top of that, Riley had an impressive NBA Summer League, where he scored 25 points in each of the two contests he played in before the Wizards brass shut him down.
Why Nikola Jokic's OKC visit meant more than a Thunder-Nuggets game
Nikola Joki ć had more than a season opener on his Oklahoma City itinerary. Before the Nuggets faced the Thunder on Thursday night, the three-time NBA MVP looked forward to catching up with a close friend. “To be honest, I'm going to see my friend Nikola Topić in Oklahoma,” Jokic told reporters Wednesday. “So, we're going to have dinner.
Wizards' reliance on Bilal Coulibaly should be met with patience
Given his at times lack of an offensive game, it may have been a bit of a divisive decision when Wizards head coach Brian Keefe slotted fourth-year wing Bilal Coulibaly into the starting 5 in place of the number one overall pick AJ Dybantsa, whose injury in previous seasons would have been the nail in the coffin on the season before it even began.
Wizards fans make it clear meaningful basketball has been missed in first game
Holding a league-worst 50-196 record over the past three seasons didn’t give Wizards fans much to cheer about. In fact, during that period, Capital One Arena was often used to see the opposing team’s stars more than the Wizards, as they almost certainly dropped another game in what was a long, miserable process for a city that holds basketball in such high regard.
Wizards should still expect fireworks from AJ Dybantsa, despite short-term absence
On Tuesday, Wizards Head Coach Brian Keefe announced that No. 1 overall pick and face of the franchise, AJ Dybantsa, will miss the season opener on Wednesday against the Milwaukee Bucks after rolling his ankle in the preseason finale against the New Orleans Pelicans last Friday.
Tyrese Haliburton felt just like normal in return to OKC for Pacers vs Thunder game
Tyrese Haliburton had the Indiana Pacers ' preseason matchup with the OKC Thunder circled for weeks. Haliburton last played in Oklahoma City in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals , when he tore his right Achilles tendon in the first quarter after draining three 3-pointers in the opening seven minutes. The injury sidelined him for the entire 2025-26 season. When Indiana visited the Thunder in January, Haliburton stayed home, telling Amazon Prime reporter Taylor Rooks he wasn't ready to return yet to OKC.
Brian Keefe's starting-five uncertainty speaks to how well the Wizards' roster is built
The Washington Wizards' preseason has many fans feeling extremely excited for the regular season to begin. Going 2-1 with close wins against the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons, respectively, the Wizards have shown an obvious uptick in talent on the court and have played an exciting level of basketball that has made Capital One Arena sound like it was hosting a playoff matchup.
AJ Dybantsa’s debut shows he's ready for all challengers
Normally, your first game, whether preseason or regular season, at “The World’s Most Famous Arena,” Madison Square Garden, as the No. 1 overall pick in a hyped draft class, would be enough weight on one's shoulders. Add in the fact that this was the first time the New York Knicks had played there since going up 3-1 to the San Antonio Spurs in an NBA Finals they would end up winning, and this environment would make even the most confident players crumble, but not Wizards rookie AJ Dybantsa.
Oklahoma high school football scores, live updates, highlights for OSSAA Week 6
The 2026 Oklahoma high school football season rolls on with Week 6 games Thursday across the state. Thursday is once again a light night, but key games in the OKC metro Friday include a key Class 5A class between Newcastle and Elgin.
Tre Mann's team-first mentality is already paying off for the Wizards
Amid all the moves the Washington Wizards made this season, acquiring Tre Mann, the former Oklahoma City Thunder and Charlotte Hornets player, was not a headline.
Darryn Peterson’s NBA debut should be signal to Wizards fans to give AJ Dybantsa time
The NBA began its preseason slate over the weekend, with the Toronto Raptors facing off against the Miami Heat on Saturday, and the weekend culminated in two Western Conference matchups: the Utah Jazz vs. the Denver Nuggets and the Golden State Warriors vs. the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night.
OSSAA football week 5 roundup: Scores, stats, highlights from across Oklahoma
The 2026 Oklahoma high school football season rolls on with Week 5 games Thursday across the state. Thursday is once again a light night, but key games in the OKC metro Friday include Carl Albert going for a state-record 59th straight win at Noble.
Oklahoma high school football scores, live updates, highlights for OSSAA Week 5 games
The 2026 Oklahoma high school football season rolls on with Week 5 games Thursday across the state. Thursday is once again a light night, but key games in the OKC metro Friday include Carl Albert going for a state-record 59th straight win at Noble.
Wizards' supporting cast has right mindset for success
The Washington Wizards held their 2026-27 Media Day on Monday, and while most of the attention went to the faces of the team like All-Stars Trae Young and Anthony Davis or 2026 No.1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa, the answers from the role players on the team were arguably more eye-opening.
OKC Thunder media day takeaways on Jalen Williams' health, Cason Wallace's contract & more
|
The OKC Thunder enters the 2026-27 NBA season with championship hopes after falling short in last year's Western Conference finals. And it continues to be led by its Big Three of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren The Thunder also parted ways with Lu Dort Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins this offseason. It then replaced them by selecting Aday Mara Bennett Stirtz and Otega Oweh in the 2026 NBA Draft OKC will begin training camp on Tuesday.
By Justin Martinez, Joe Mussatto Verified, Jeff Patterson, Jacob Unruh Verified, Jordan Davis, Isa Almeida Verified
|
MSN
Verified
Alex Sarr has reason for extra motivation following exclusion from ESPN list
On Tuesday, ESPN released its annual ranking of the top 100 NBA players for the upcoming 2026-27 season, which tips off in less than a month. While Wizards fans should be excited to see 2026 No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa crack the list at No. 78, third-year big man Alex Sarr was a glaring omission. Washington fans are no strangers to their team and players being forgotten about or disregarded by mainstream NBA media.
Oklahoma high school football scores, live updates, highlights for OSSAA Week 3 games OSSAA football live updates, scores for Week 3 Oklahoma high school football games
The 2026 Oklahoma high school football season rolls on with Week 3 games Thursday across the state. Thursday is a light night, but key games in the OKC metro Friday include Carl Albert visiting Del City, Piedmont at Norman North and Stroud at Chandler. Follow along with The Oklahoman for live updates from Week 3 games Thursday and Friday: Join The Varsity Club , our three-times-a-week high school sports newsletter, by clicking here and hit the "sign up" button .
Amidst change, Wizards keep a constant in Anthony Gill
Between drafting BYU star AJ Dybantsa No. 1 overall, signing four-time All-Star Trae Young to a four-year, $212.8 million contract, trading forwards Cam Whitmore and Julian Reese to acquire guard Tre Mann, and signing veterans Khris Middleton and Deandre Ayton, this has been a very eventful summer for the Washington Wizards. Add in the trade that sent 10-time All-Star big man Anthony Davis to Washington in February, and it's not hyperbolic to call the past few months transformative.
The spotlight is on Bub Carrington following Wizards' Tre Mann trade
Not long ago, third-year guard Bub Carrington was seen as one of the few bright spots on the otherwise dim Washington Wizards. After a rookie campaign that surprised many fans, the 21-year-old out of Pittsburgh was an effective three-point shooter but showed weaknesses outside of that in his sophomore season.
Eagles surprise fans with QB trade in final 53-man roster prediction for 2026
While the Philadelphia Eagles would have liked to get at least one in the preseason, they still ended it in a disappointing 30-13 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and finished 0-3. The preseason is already in the rearview mirror for the Eagles, as the focus is now on finalizing the 53-man roster.
Wizards' Cam Whitmore trade is a testament to how well they have built young core
Not too long ago, the Washington Wizards had very little in the way of an actual team, much less a group of young guys to build around. Following the trade that sent franchise star Bradley Beal to the Phoenix Suns in 2023, one could argue that the organization was built around the hopes of Jordan Poole and Kyle Kuzma figuring it out. However, that reality feels like a long time ago.
Wizards' Cam Whitmore trade is a testament to how well they have built young core
Not too long ago, the Washington Wizards had very little in the way of an actual team, much less a group of young guys to build around. Following the trade that sent franchise star Bradley Beal to the Phoenix Suns in 2023, one could argue that the organization was built around the hopes of Jordan Poole and Kyle Kuzma figuring it out. However, that reality feels like a long time ago.
How Wizards should use final roster spot following Russell Westbrook retirement
On August 12, nine-time All-Star, two-time scoring champion, NBA 75 member, and former league MVP Russell Westbrook announced his retirement from the Association after 18 years, putting an end to speculation about a possible reunion with the Wizards for the 2026-27 season.
Wizards' 2026-27 schedule shows how NBA views new-look squad
The 2026-27 schedule for all 30 NBA teams was released on Thursday, and like every year, it draws a lot of traffic and conversation. The most popular discussion point is almost always, “How many primetime games is each team getting?” Going into the full schedule release, Wizards fans knew they would not be receiving as many of those coveted positions as the Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks, or Los Angeles Lakers, but after how noisy their last seven months have been, the curiosity was there.
The firepower ahead of Kyshawn George in Wizards' rotation won’t dim his light
After a second-year breakout averaging just under 15 points per game, many Wizards fans are naturally ready for a third-year potential All-Star jump from small forward Kyshawn George. However, after the acquisitions of All-Stars Trae Young and Anthony Davis, along with the lottery luck that landed the Wiz BYU star AJ Dybantsa No. 1 overall, the question has to be asked: will that jump for George come? If fans have questions about scoring, that is a valid question to ask.
The light on Bilal Coulibaly has never been brighter than it is now
On July 9th, all eyes in the NBA world were on the Washington Wizards' summer league opener against the Utah Jazz, as the hype to see No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa and second-overall pick Darryn Peterson match up for the very first time in their respective pro careers was through the roof.
The light on Bilal Coulibaly has never been brighter than it is now
On July 9th, all eyes in the NBA world were on the Washington Wizards' summer league opener against the Utah Jazz, as the hype to see No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa and second-overall pick Darryn Peterson match up for the very first time in their respective pro careers was through the roof.
The Wizards can't put this pressure solely on AJ Dybantsa after East's improvements
Just a couple of months ago, the NBA showcased just how important elite guard play and a superstar big man are when Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks beat Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs to claim their first NBA title in 53 years. However, by and large, the position that has determined the most success for a team recently is having an All-NBA-caliber small forward, and the Eastern Conference is loaded with them after free agency.
LeBron James picking the 76ers should remind the Wizards of what their goal is
Whether it was from the Washington Wizards acquiring NBA 75 big man Anthony Davis in February, or LeBron James' unorthodox approach that landed him in Philadelphia as a 76er, a lot of Wizards fans had hopes of the former 4-time MVP joining the team. These dreams of LBJ came to an end on Friday afternoon, though, when the player many consider the greatest of all time chose the aforementioned Sixers to play out the final chapter of his career.
Will Riley is making himself impossible for the Wizards to ignore
Going back to his freshman season at Illinois, it has felt like second-year playmaker Will Riley was a bit overshadowed. Whether that be next to Bucks Guard Kasparas Jakucionis in his lone season in college, Tre Johnson, Kyshawn George, and Alex Sarr in his rookie season, or now on the summer league team next to No.1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa, the headlines thus far in Riley’s career haven’t been about him.
Tre Johnson just answered a massive question the Wizards hoped for
The Wizards opened their Summer League season on Thursday night against the Utah Jazz, and understandably, all eyes were on the future of the respective franchises in No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa and No. 2 pick Darryn Peterson. Scoring a team-high for each of their squads, these two soon-to-be superstars showed that all of their future battles will be must-see TV for us viewers.
Wizards must enter Summer League with patience in mind for AJ Dybantsa
The NBA Summer League tipped off on July 3rd, so while the Wizards don’t begin until the 9th, this has given fans a glimpse of some of the other young stars drafted just after AJ Dybantsa. And boy have they shined. The No.2 overall pick, Darryn Peterson of the Utah Jazz, has made Summer League his so far.
Wizards' Khris Middleton signing is exactly what the doctor ordered
After the acquisition of ninth-year big man Deandre Ayton on Friday, I think most Wizards fans had settled on the additions to the roster being through for now. The Wizards added another player to the roster on Tuesday when veteran Khris Middleton signed a deal to return to D.C, just five months after he was traded in February as part of the Anthony Davis deal. You could argue on paper that this move makes an already crowded forward room that the Wizards have even more packed.
The Wizards' response to Anthony Davis rumors proves the organization has matured
Despite not having played a game for the Washington Wizards yet, Anthony Davis’s tenure in D.C. has been marred by tension. Since he was acquired by the Wizards in February, the former 10-time All-Star has seemed skeptical at best about staying in Washington. This has led fans and insiders alike to speculate that the big man may never play a game for the Wizards.
AJ Dybantsa could fulfill the role that Wizards fans waited years for Kevin Durant to
Seemingly, since he arrived as a superstar in the league 15+ years ago, Kevin Durant has been the desire for many Wizards fans hoping for relevancy. With his 7ft wiry frame, along with his once-in-a-generation ability to handle the ball, being an excellent catch and shoot player as well as off the dribble, Wizards fans looked at the Suitland, Maryland product as being the great hope in taking them from worst to first.
Why Trae Young’s extension shouldn’t give the Wizards flashbacks to past mistakes
On Monday, Trae Young signed a four-year, $212 million deal to give the Wizards an anchor that they can rely on for the foreseeable future at point guard. BREAKING: Trae Young intends to sign a four-year, approximately $212 million deal to stay with the Washington Wizards, with a player option in Year 4, sources tell ESPN. The four-time NBA All-Star declined his $49M player option for a long-term commitment ahead of free agency.
Trae Young just sent a message to everyone sleeping on the Wizards
Normally, when a team as downtrodden as the Washington Wizards acquires a four-time All-Star in his prime, the worry is that the star has come to coast on past performance, get paid, and, overall, be unmotivated to change the team's culture. However, from the moment the Wizards traded for Trae Young, he has shown himself to be nothing like that, with his appearance on the popular podcast "The Pivot" on Tuesday just being the latest example.
The Wizards need a rebrand to introduce the new era
In 2011, after franchise legend John Wall’s rookie season, the Wizards took a new direction with their jerseys, signaling an official goodbye to the Gilbert Arenas era and ushering in the era of the star point guard. 15 years later, and it is time for the same, as the Wizards will draft their future franchise star No.1 overall, who can hopefully lead them to success.
Alex Sarr has earned the right to chase a bigger goal
In the midst of an otherwise chaotic season, Alex Sarr’s 2025-26 campaign was one of the few bright spots. The former No.2 overall pick flashed growth in his game on both ends of the floor, averaging a team-best 16.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and two blocks a contest, showcasing a night-to-night threat on both ends of the floor that warranted that high selection in 2024. An All-Star Leap for Sarr, though, could take the Wizards up a notch from the already high expectations that next season will bring.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Jordan
Contact Jordan, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack