Dallas Mavericks fans can exhale — at least for now. Early concerns that Anthony Davis could be facing a season-ending injury have eased, as the Mavericks no longer expect the veteran big man to require surgery on his left hand. Davis remains on a roughly six-week recovery timeline, keeping the door open for a return later this season rather than a prolonged absence.

The injury, which occurred Jan. 8, involved ligament damage to Davis’ non-shooting hand, a key factor in Dallas’ more optimistic outlook. While Davis remains weeks away from game action, the revised medical picture has stabilized a season that has already been defined by disruption.

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Anthony Davis Begins Light On-Court Work

According to DallasHoopsJournal.com senior writer Grant Afseth, Davis has recently resumed very limited, controlled on-court work in Dallas as he enters the early phase of his rehabilitation.

The work has consisted of gentle basketball activity rather than full practices or contact drills. Davis has been wearing a protective glove on his injured left hand, allowing the ligament to continue healing without surgical intervention while keeping him engaged and in rhythm.

Because the injury does not affect his shooting hand, Davis has been able to maintain conditioning, ball-handling, and shooting work while largely avoiding situations that would stress the injured area. Team officials continue to emphasize that the on-court activity is a positive step, not an indication that a return is imminent.

The working expectation remains a six-week recovery window, a timeline that would likely keep Davis sidelined through the All-Star break. No firm return date has been set, and the organization is proceeding cautiously.

Jason Kidd Addresses Injury Timeline and Dallas Mavericks’ Reality

Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd acknowledged the relief that came with avoiding surgery while discussing Davis’ outlook.

“I think it’s good when you talk about six weeks, that’s a positive,” Kidd said. “If he had to have surgery, does that mean that’s longer? I don’t know, but I think it’s just good that he didn’t have to have surgery and the number was six weeks.”

Kidd framed Davis’ absence as another example of the instability Dallas has dealt with all season.

“I don’t think it’s tough. I think that’s our norm with injuries or sickness,” Kidd said. “We lose guys. Next guy up.”

The other key element for the Mavericks is Kyrie Irving’s ongoing injury recovery. As Afseth reported first, sources have indicated that Irving is expected to be physically able to play after the NBA All-Star break. He also shared observations from a workout earlier in January about how sharp and explosive Irving looks at this stage in his recovery process while getting in reps with assistant coach Phil Handy.

While various reports indicate that Davis may not be able to play until March despite the timeline provided by the Mavericks stating healing is expected to be complete during the All-Star break, the Mavericks’ plans will be important to watch. Without control of their first-round pick after this season through 2031, there is some belief that tanking is possible despite being able to have Davis and Irving play.

Anthony Davis Trade Market is Quiet — But Not Closed

Building on that last note, will Davis even be on the Mavericks past the Feb. 5 midseason deadline for the Mavericks to determine whether to limit his activity or not?

Davis’ name has circulated in league discussions earlier in the season, but the trade market around him has cooled. League sources indicate that a deal involving Davis is not currently expected, even as the broader midseason market remains fluid.

Previous interest from the Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors has not progressed into meaningful talks, and Dallas is not aggressively shopping the former All-NBA big man at this time.

That said, a move has not been fully ruled out before midseason deadlines should circumstances shift. For now, the Mavericks’ focus remains on Davis’ recovery and reintegration rather than reshaping the roster around his absence.

Cooper Flagg Anchors the Dallas Mavericks’ Long-Term Outlook

While results have been uneven, Cooper Flagg has emerged as the clearest bright spot in Dallas’ season.

Flagg is averaging 18.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in 33.8 minutes per game across 43 appearances. He is shooting 47.3% from the field, averaging 1.3 steals, and has taken on consistent responsibility on both ends of the floor amid injuries and rotation instability.

Before his injury, Davis had provided a steady interior presence of his own. He appeared in 20 games, averaging 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists while shooting 50.6% from the field and anchoring the paint defensively with 1.7 blocks per game.

Dallas currently sits at 16–26, lodged in the lower half of a crowded Western Conference where teams such as Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Denver, and Houston have separated themselves near the top. For the Mavericks, stabilizing the season hinges on two parallel tracks: Davis’ eventual return and Flagg’s continued growth.

Kidd has remained bullish on Flagg’s trajectory, including his potential involvement during All-Star Weekend.

“He’s going to be there no matter what,” Kidd said. “If he participates in the Big Game, that’s because of the work he’s put in. We hope that he does make the Big Game and he gets voted in.”

Even if Flagg does not reach the All-Star Game itself, Kidd believes his résumé ensures he’ll be part of the weekend.

“Hopefully he’s in the Big Game, but he will participate in the Little Game, the one before,” Kidd said. “When you look at his stats, he’s in a great class.”

As Dallas navigates injuries, a quiet trade market, and a challenging conference landscape, Flagg’s development remains the franchise’s most consistent source of optimism — and the foundation Kidd appears most comfortable building around as the season moves forward.