Anthony Davis took a positive step in his recovery Monday. The Washington Wizards cleared the 10-time All-Star for light contact following his latest evaluation. He will almost certainly not play another game this season. Washington acquired Davis at the February trade deadline hoping he could anchor their frontcourt alongside Trae Young.
When Will Anthony Davis Return?
The Wizards announced that Davis “continues to progress as expected and is healing on schedule.”
Medical staff reevaluated his hand Monday and cleared him to advance his basketball activity. The franchise stated he “has been cleared for light contact as he progresses toward his full return.” Davis suffered the initial ligament damage during a Jan. 8 matchup against the Utah Jazz while playing for the Dallas Mavericks.
ANTHONY DAVIS INJURY UPDATE pic.twitter.com/xeZh9HE0X7
— Wizards PR (@WizPRStats) March 31, 2026
General manager Will Dawkins previously told reporters he expected Davis to return before the April 12 regular-season finale. That front office optimism clashed with the medical reality of volar plate tissue damage. Washington now has just seven games remaining on the schedule. The team officially ruled Davis out for the next game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Capital One Arena.
The Mavericks initially considered surgery for the injury in January. Dallas eventually opted for rest and conservative rehabilitation instead. The team lost both Davis and highly touted forward Cooper Flagg to injuries at the same time. Dallas lost its elite rim presence and inside scoring overnight.
Davis remained sidelined through the trade deadline before Dallas packaged him in a multi-player deal to Washington. The Wizards inherited his rehabilitation timeline and have handled him with extreme caution.
Washington plays the 76ers next before traveling to face the Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets this weekend. The Wizards close their schedule with a home-heavy slate that concludes against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Davis will not participate in any of those matchups.
Washington currently holds a 17-58 record. They are tied with the Indiana Pacers for the worst mark in the league. The Wizards are missing several key rotation pieces. Young reinjured his right quadriceps against the Golden State Warriors on March 16.
Rookie Alexandre Sarr and wing Kyshawn George also remain completely out of the lineup. Management is prioritizing a cautious approach with their veteran center rather than chasing meaningless wins.
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Davis has two years and approximately $175 million remaining on his current contract. That deal includes a player option in the final season. Risking his long-term health in early April offers zero structural benefit. Washington is perfectly positioned in the upcoming draft lottery and has no incentive to disrupt their positioning.
Durability remains a massive obstacle for the star big man. He has played more than 60 games only twice in the past eight seasons. Davis missed extended stretches during his tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers due to foot, ankle, and lower-body injuries.
The Lakers traded him to Dallas last season in a blockbuster deal centered around Luka Dončić. His stint with the Mavericks never stabilized before the hand injury.
Davis managed just 20 games this season for Dallas. He averaged 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.7 blocks in 31.3 minutes per night. That 20.4 scoring mark represents his lowest points per game output since his rookie season.
Washington will keep him in street clothes for the final two weeks to focus entirely on getting him healthy for the 2026-27 season.
