Anthony Davis plans on finishing the season with the Washington Wizards before deciding on any potential contract extension, he said at Wizards media day on Monday.
Sources told ESPN's Shams Charania last month that the Wizards and Davis' agent, Rich Paul, mutually decided to wait on talks for an extension until the season began. One source told Charania at the time that it would give both sides the first 20 or so games to marinate over a potential deal and assess how the season goes.
Davis indicated a longer timeline when discussing how he would decide on remaining a Wizards after this season.
"[I'll decide] when the season is over. We're going to go through the season and try to do what I do at a high level," he said. "And then when it's over, sit down and have those conversations again with front office."
Davis became eligible in early August to sign a contract extension for up to four years and $275 million. He holds a player option for $62 million next season, the final year of a three-year, $175 million deal he signed with the Lakers. The first year of an extension would replace that player option.
With extension plans unclear, talks brewed of a potential Davis trade during free agency. The Golden State Warriors were viewed as a potential destination as a way to lure LeBron James to sign with them before he joined the Philadelphia 76ers.
No deal came to fruition, however, and a source told Andscape's Marc J. Spears in late June that the Wizards had no interest in trading Davis and were not listening to offers.
Washington acquired the 10-time All-Star big man in a February trade, following a blockbuster deal for guard Trae Young weeks earlier. Four months after Davis arrived, the Wizards selected AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft. Young and Davis -- with Dybantsa in the long-term -- are part of what Washington hopes will bring a new, successful era of basketball.
The team hasn't reached the playoffs since 2021 and has won less than 20 games in each of the past three seasons.
The Wizards tied Young down with a four-year, $212 million contract during the offseason, but Davis' future still remains up in the air. Young has presumably looked to assist Washington in its efforts. When asked if he talked to Davis about staying with the team, Young said he had conversations with him.
"I ain't on it too much," Young told ESPN with a smile in July. "I think he knows where he wants to be right now."
The All-Star duo are entrusted with not only helping Dybantsa grow, but also other Wizards youngsters like 2025 No. 6 pick Tre Johnson and 2024 No. 2 pick Alex Sarr, too. Davis emphasized that the leadership style he hopes to bring is a simple one: "just helping the young guys."
"I think a lot of them lean on me and ask me questions about how this upcoming season specifically is going to be because [it's] a little different than what some of these guys have been accustomed to. Coming in from day one, bringing the energy, bringing the intensity and letting the guys know that there's a standard that we have to play to, if we want to do something special."
Davis didn't suit up for the Wizards last season due to a hand injury. However, the NBA champion expressed excitement about being back on the court and helping shift the reputation around the team. He added that they're "a little slept on," an idea that he's always liked.
He also praised Washington's offseason moves: signing Khris Middleton and trading for Deandre Ayton.
"Doing what they're doing shows that we're trying to win," Davis said. "Now change the narrative around the Wizards of being this off night that people would say. You going to DC or DC come to town, you know, guys stay up a little later and kind of mess around the game.
"So, kind of change that narrative of how we want to be the team that we want to be for this season. So, I'm very excited about that."