The Dallas Mavericks season continues to unravel, and the latest blow may be the most consequential yet.
At 15-25, Dallas is now facing the likelihood of being without Anthony Davis for several months after the star big man suffered ligament damage in his left hand.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Davis is likely to undergo surgery following a light collision with Lauri Markkanen in a recent game against the Utah Jazz. If that prognosis holds, Davis' Dallas season is effectively over given both the recovery timeline and the franchise's current direction.
Head coach Jason Kidd offered little certainty when asked about Davis' status earlier this week, noting the veteran is still consulting with doctors.
"I think that's sometime this week that he'll talk to the doctors," Kidd said, per Eddie Sefko of Mavs.com. "But there is no timetable when he's going to make that announcement. The team is playing. We've been through this before, not just with AD. We've been hit with a lot of injuries the last two years. Next man up mentality."
That familiar refrain has followed Dallas throughout the Davis era, which has been defined as much by availability concerns as on-court production.
Since arriving in Dallas in the blockbuster deal that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, Davis has struggled to stay healthy. Abdomen, adductor, eye, thigh, groin, Achilles, leg, calf and now hand ligament injuries, have repeatedly interrupted any momentum.
In 20 games this season, Davis has averaged 20.4 points and 11.1 rebounds, but the Mavericks are just 5-15 when he doesn't play. That instability has left Dallas stuck between competing and resetting.
Christian Clark of The Athletic suggested the latest setback may bring unintended clarity. With Dallas unlikely to control its own first-round pick again until 2031, sliding further down the standings could improve its odds of landing a premium selection in the 2026 draft.
It's not the vision former general manager Nico Harrison had in mind when he acquired Davis to chase a title. But as injuries mount and losses pile up, the Mavericks may be forced to confront a harsher reality: this season may be less about salvaging wins and more about resetting the future.
Newsweek