Former Wisconsin men's basketball star traded to Memphis Grizzlies
Former Wisconsin Badgers star Johnny Davis is headed to the Grizzlies after struggling in Washington. Can a fresh start help him find his NBA footing?
Johnny Davis is getting a fresh start.
The former Wisconsin men's basketball standout is officially on the move, as the Washington Wizards traded him to the Memphis Grizzlies before the NBA’s trade deadline.
Davis, a top-10 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, never found his footing in Washington. Over two-plus seasons, he bounced between the Wizards and their G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go, struggling to carve out a consistent role. In 50 games during the 2023-24 season, the 6-foot-5 guard averaged 3.0 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 0.6 assists while shooting 40% from the field in just over 12 minutes per game.
This season, under new Wizards head coach Brian Keefe, Davis didn’t see an uptick in production. He played in 34 games, averaging 2.4 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 0.3 assists in just seven minutes per game while shooting 41% from the field. Additionally, the general manager who drafted Davis, Tommy Sheppard, is no longer with the organization.
Now, he joins a Memphis team looking to retool its roster for the future. Davis was part of a larger trade that saw the Grizzlies send Marcus Smart, Colby Jones, Alex Len, and a 2025 first-round pick to Washington.
In return, Memphis landed Davis, former Duke forward Marvin Bagley III, and several second-round picks. The move gives Davis a much-needed change of scenery and a chance to reestablish himself in the NBA.
With the Wisconsin native's option for 2025-26 already being declined by the Wizards for next season, Davis will need to hit the ground running if he's going to position himself to get another opportunity in the association.
A former La Crosse Central product, Davis starred for Greg Gard and the Badgers from 2020-22. He enjoyed a breakout sophomore season, averaging 19.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists on a 32.5% usage rating while leading Wisconsin to a share of the Big Ten regular-season title.
That production earned him First-Team All-Big Ten, Big Ten Player of the Year, and First-Team All-American honors before he declared for the draft.
Davis was the first player drafted under coach Gard and Wisconsin’s first NBA selection since 2015, when Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker went No. 9 and No. 18 overall to the Hornets and Rockets, respectively.
The Grizzlies are taking a flier and hoping a fresh opportunity will help Davis rediscover the form that made him such a promising prospect coming out of college. If not, the 22-year-old guard's future in the league looks bleak.
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