The Washington Wizards finally saw their new franchise centerpiece in action as Trae Young made his highly anticipated debut Thursday night at Capital One Arena. Despite a 122-112 loss to the Utah Jazz, the energy in the building reached heights not seen in the District for years as Young provided a glimpse into the team’s future.

Young, who was acquired from the Atlanta Hawks in January, had been sidelined since late December with quadriceps and knee issues. Playing on a strict 20-minute restriction, the 27-year-old guard finished with 12 points and six assists in just over 19 minutes of play.

The three-time All-Star didn’t take long to introduce himself to the home crowd. On Washington's opening offensive possession, Young sliced through the defense for a layup. His signature flair was on full display in the second quarter when he faked a behind-the-back pass with his right hand, switched the ball to his left mid-air, and finished a contested scoop layup that sent the fans into a frenzy.

"I just wanted to come out here and just have some fun," Young said in his postgame availability. "Get the first one out of the way. I was really looking forward to today, just coming out here and shaking off whatever rust I would have from missing a few months of basketball."

In his press conference Wizards coach Brian Keefe noted the immediate impact of Young’s presence on the atmosphere. "You felt the electricity in the building," Keefe said. "Our fans have been terrific this year... You could definitely feel it."

The Wizards are still awaiting the debut of Anthony Davis, who was also acquired via trade last month. The team announced Thursday that Davis has been cleared for limited on-court activities following a hand injury and will be reevaluated in two weeks.