Wisconsin Badger legend Johnny Davis may be coming back to his home state for the upcoming season. Per a release from the Wisconsin Herd, the team traded the returning player rights to Diego Bernard and
Jalen Lewis, a 2026 G League Player Draft first-round pick, and a 2026 G League International Draft pick to the Westchester Knicks, in exchange for Davis’ returning player rights.
Davis burst onto the draft scene in 2022 after winning Big Ten Player of the Year, leading Wisconsin to a share of the regular-season Big Ten championship and earning first-team All-American honors. The Wizards selected Davis with the 10th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft, but things never clicked in Washington. He appeared in 112 games over three seasons, averaging just 3.5 points and 1.6 rebounds.
Ironically, Davis played his best NBA game against the Bucks on April 4, 2023. In a late regular-season matchup, Davis posted a career-high 20 points and added five rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and two steals. He also threw down a nasty dunk over Jrue Holiday, reminding fans what made him a superstar for Wisconsin.
Unfortunately, the performance against the Bucks was not a good representation of how his career has gone thus far, and he’s been mostly in the G League as of late. He played in eight games with the Westchester Knicks last season after the Wizards traded him to Memphis at the deadline, who waived him two weeks later. Including previous stints with the Capital City Go-Go—Washington’s affiliate—he has played 47 games in the G League, averaging 11.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game.
Davis joins Aleem Ford as the second former Badger acquired by the Herd this offseason. Ford was acquired from the Rip City Remix, along with a 2026 G League Player Draft first-round pick, in exchange for former Buck Liam Robbins in September. Robbins, along with our old friend MarJon Beauchamp, was waived by Portland yesterday.
It’s extremely unlikely that Davis ever plays a minute for the Bucks, but perhaps the La Crosse native could find his footing with the Herd, playing in the comfort of his home state. It is Davis’ last season eligible for a two-way contract, although that feels like a long shot anyway. Despite the Herd having his rights, he still has the option to go overseas and never suit up for the team. It would be fun for Wisconsin sports fans to see a Badger legend play in Oshkosh, but the main hope is that Davis can find the best situation for himself and remind everyone what made him special at Wisconsin.
