Dallas Mavericks star Anthony Davis played 5-on-5 this week for the first time since undergoing eye surgery in July, according to NBA insider Marc Stein of The Stein Line.
Davis, 32, had surgery to repair a detached retina.
Mavericks All-Star big man Anthony Davis returned to the practice floor this week for some 5-on-5 play, @TheSteinLine has learned.
It’s believed to be Davis’ first game-speed action since it emerged in July that he needed eye surgery to mend a detached retina.
📷: @DLLS_Sports pic.twitter.com/6Nzknkujrm
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) September 20, 2025
Davis only appeared in nine regular-season games with the Mavericks in 2024-25 due to an adductor injury. He averaged 20.0 points, 10.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 0.6 steals and 2.2 blocks while shooting 46.1% from the field, 23.3% from beyond the arc and 68.8% from the free-throw line.
One of the best two-way players in the NBA, Davis has played for the New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Lakers and Mavericks. The Chicago native has career averages of 24.1 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.3 blocks. He has made 10 All-Star teams, five All-NBA teams and five All-Defensive teams.
The Mavericks missed the 2025 playoffs after making the 2024 NBA Finals. General manager Nico Harrison shockingly traded Luka Dončić to the Lakers for Davis and Max Christie in February.
Dallas won the 2025 NBA Draft lottery and selected Duke star Cooper Flagg with the first overall pick.
D’Angelo Russell, who played with Davis and Christie on the Lakers, signed with the Mavericks in free agency. He will start at point guard until Kyrie Irving recovers from his ACL tear.
Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd is widely expected to start Russell, Thompson, Flagg, Davis and Daniel Gafford to begin the 2025-26 season.
Thompson, 35, is a big fan of Davis. During an interview with NBA legend Michael Cooper on the Showtime With Michael Cooper Lakers Podcast, Thompson called Davis the “best power forward maybe of my generation.”
“AD, when he’s healthy, he’s the best power forward maybe of my generation,” Klay Thompson said about Anthony Davis. “I mean, you’ve been able to see him up close with the Lakers. He is a two-way force. I mean, there’s not many big men who can do what he does as far as his handle, his blocking shot ability, his freaking jump shot.”
Davis (1), Thompson (4) and Irving (1) have combined to win six NBA championships.