The Dallas Mavericks just can’t catch a break. Anthony Davis, their star power forward and former All-Star, landed on the injury report again during the 2025-26 NBA season.
What actually happened to Anthony Davis?
On Christmas Day, in a big game against the Golden State Warriors, Davis checked out early — just 11 minutes in. He tweaked his right groin, and the team called it right adductor soreness or a minor groin strain. You could see him limping, clutching at his side, before he headed straight to the locker room. That was it for his night; the Mavericks shut him down as a precaution.This isn’t Davis’ first setback this year. Earlier in the season, he missed several games with a low-grade left calf strain. The team held him out for over a week to let that heal, so it’s been a rough stretch for him.
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If you look back, these injuries keep popping up. Ever since Davis landed in Dallas in that huge trade last February, it’s been one thing after another — leg, adductor, calf strains. He missed a chunk of games early in his Mavericks run, and the pattern isn’t that unusual for veteran big men in the NBA. Still, the constant muscle issues are worrying for Dallas. The Mavericks need their big man healthy and available, especially with the grind of the regular season. 
Understanding the road to recovery
How long will Davis be out this time? According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, it’s a minor groin strain, so Davis is expected to miss just a few games. The team is taking it day by day. Right now, it looks like he’ll be out for the next stretch of games after Christmas and might miss more depending on how he feels over the next couple of days. There’s no official multi-week timeline, and “minor” is a good sign — it means this isn’t as serious as some of his past injuries. Usually, players with a grade-1 groin strain might miss a handful of games, but if things go well, he could be back sooner.For the Mavericks, losing Davis, even for a short time, hurts. Their frontcourt depth takes a hit. Daniel Gafford, Cooper Flagg, and Dwight Powell will probably get more minutes. And with the trade deadline creeping up, Davis’ health could affect his trade value or the team’s decisions about the roster.
How long does it typically take to recover from such an injury?
Groin strains are tricky, but minor ones usually heal up in a week or two with rest, therapy, and some careful rehab. The key is to get the swelling down, build back strength, and avoid another flare-up — which is always a risk for NBA players, given all the cutting, jumping, and quick moves. Dallas is playing it safe, so Davis might just sit out the immediate games and return once he’s fully cleared by the medical staff.However, it’s important to remember that injury timelines can change fast. To stay updated about his recovery, keep an eye out for the Mavericks’ official updates for the latest on Davis’ status.