SerpApi.Org
Over his 14-year NBA career, Anthony Davis has built a resume worthy of a future First Ballot Hall of Famer.
He is a 10-time All-Star, a five-time All-NBA selection, a five-time All-Defensive Team honoree and an NBA champion who played a pivotal role in leading the Los Angeles Lakers to their 17th NBA title. Yet, despite those accomplishments, one concern has consistently overshadowed his career: his durability.
As the years have gone by, injuries have repeatedly interrupted Davis' momentum, making teams increasingly hesitant to rely on him as the cornerstone of a championship contender.
That uncertainty has played a significant role in his journey from the Lakers to the Dallas Mavericks to now the Washington Wizards, a team that has made it into the playoffs merely once in the last eight years.
However, if AD is to be believed, he is all set to change that perspective about himself at the age of 33.
Davis is determined to play "82" games
Since helping the Lakers win the championship in 2020, Davis has earned more than $31 million in every season.
Despite being expected to lead the Purple and Gold as its No. 1 option, he surpassed the 70-game mark only once during his entire tenure with the Purple and Gold.
That pattern continued in Dallas.
After being counted on to anchor the Mavericks, fans and the front office gave him another chance when he appeared in just nine contests in the second half of the 2024-25 regular season for the team. But after groin, ankle, eye and hand injuries limited him to 20 appearances in the '25-26 season, the Mavs decided to trade him to the Wizards in the midseason trade window.
Now, though, The Brow appears more optimistic than ever.
During an interaction with a fan, AD confidently proclaimed that he plans on not missing a single contest for the team next year.
"82!" Davis proclaimed before walking away.
Did AD contradict himself?
If he accomplishes that feat, not only will that change the perception about AD, but it will also give the Wizards a chance to compete for a top seed in the East.
Moreover, with Trae Young and No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa, who recently averaged 25.0 points across his two Summer League appearances, a healthy Davis could lead the Wizards to heights their fanbase has never seen in recent decades.
However, when Davis was asked about predicting the overall wins for Washington, he didn't seem to see them ranking higher than a Play-In contender.
"Stat line? I wouldn't care about stat line," Davis said. "But we're gonna have 40+ wins."
For perspective, both the Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat finished with more than 41 victories during the 2025-26 season, yet still failed to secure postseason spots, illustrating just how competitive the Eastern Conference has become.
Lastly, for Davis, it isn't just about validating that he's capable of leading a team but also that he is a player worthy enough to earn $58 million in a season.
