An update on Anthony Davis’ injury status has been provided, and it may cause concern among Dallas Mavericks fans.
Anthony Davis, who was traded for Luka Doncic in last season’s shocking trade with the Los Angeles Lakers, suited up only nine times for the Dallas Mavericks last season. Injury struggles have been a theme threaded through the 2020 NBA champion’s Hall of Fame career.
Davis has played over 70 games in just three of his 12 NBA seasons, and another blow was dealt to him at the start of summer. Davis underwent eye surgery in July to repair a detached retina, seeing him sidelined for the summer.
The Mavericks have championship hopes this season, but the latest update on Davis could be a concern for those aspirations.
Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesAnthony Davis is unable to participate in Klay Thompson’s mini-camp
The Mavericks prepare for their first full season of the post-Doncic era, and veterans of the team are attempting to build chemistry among the new roster. Klay Thompson organised an offseason minicamp for the players to gain some much-needed on-court time ahead of training camp.
Reports indicate that the camp was well-attended by players, and Davis was among those who showed up. However, months after his eye surgery, he was still unable to participate.
NBA insider Marc Stein of The Stein Line wrote, “The Mavericks, who I’m told — at the urging of sharpshooter Klay Thompson — got together for a well-attended bonding camp in Newport Beach in early September.
“Word is Anthony Davis, though he was not able to participate in the on-court activities there as he continues to recover from July eye surgery to repair a detached retina, did host a dinner for his teammates while they were working out in Southern California.”
The NBA season is long and grueling, and for contending teams, the regular season serves as preparation for the postseason showdown in the playoffs. An early-season injury to an experienced veteran wouldn’t typically sound off alarm bells.
But the Mavericks are a unique case, and they need every bit of on-court action they can get from Davis.
Why Anthony Davis’ early-season injury should be concerning to Dallas Mavericks fans
The Mavericks are one of the most exceptional stories in NBA history. They looked set for a multi-year rebuild after trading away their superstar, Doncic, last season, but a generational talent fell into their lap, and Dallas is now ready to win.
After Dallas won the draft lottery and drafted Cooper Flagg, they can maximize their championship window on the back end of Davis and Kyrie Irving’s prime. But rarely has a number one draft pick entered the league with the expectations heaped on Flagg’s shoulders.
The highly-touted rookie out of Duke realistically has a two or three-year window to win a ring with his superstar teammates. That means he needs to hit the ground running and learn the ropes quickly alongside Davis and Irving.
But he’s not even going to be afforded the luxury of a season playing with his new teammates. Irving is currently sidelined with an ACL injury and isn’t expected to return before 2026. And Davis is still not ready for on-court action ahead of the 2025-26 season.
Flagg will likely start his first season without Davis and Irving, and will then be forced to integrate them back into the roster midway through the year. And on top of that, there’s no room for wasted games.
The West is stacked from top to bottom, and the Mavericks face a challenge to even make the playoffs. If Flagg can’t lead the team to wins early in the season, the team could kiss goodbye to their championship aspirations before the postseason even begins.