Jerome Miron/Imagn
The Dallas Mavericks and GM Nico Harrison shocked the NBA last week when they traded superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis and Max Christie. Doncic is widely regarded as one of the league’s elite players and is still just 25 years old.
Fans quickly revolted against Harrison and the organization. But at least in the short term, you could sort of see what they may have been thinking. After all, Davis is a superstar in his own right and in theory he’s a much better fit next to fellow star Kyrie Irving as the Mavs look to chase a championship in the near future.
Anthony Davis Leaves Dallas Mavericks Debut After Non-Contact Injury
Davis finally made his debut for the team on Saturday, and right from the jump he looked like an absolute perfect fit. The 10-time NBA All-Star dominated in all facets. He scored 24 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and dished out five assists while providing elite rim protection.
If Davis continued to play at that level in Dallas, the Mavericks immediately become a genuine NBA title threat. But there are two sides to the Anthony Davis story. And sadly, the other side quickly reared its ugly head as well.
Anthony Davis went to the locker room with a non-contact injury pic.twitter.com/uq4671SOJG
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 8, 2025
Davis has played more than 60 games just once in the last five seasons. He’s missed extensive time due to a wide variety of injuries and rarely seems to stay healthy for more than 10 games at a time. Unfortunately, the injury bug popped up again on Saturday. Davis left the game against the Rockets in the third quarter after doubling over in pain with an apparent non-contact injury. He did not return and the team ruled him out with a lower-body injury.
After the game, he said he re-aggravated the same abdominal injury that had kept him out for the last five games. Maybe it proves to be nothing major. Maybe Dallas gets a healthy Davis and makes a true run at the title. But the early returns aren’t great, and Davis isn’t getting any younger.