The Dallas Mavericks remain in the playoff hunt amid the Western Conference’s tightly packed standings. Their 2024-25 regular season has been anything but smooth, marked by major setbacks — whether it was Nico Harrison’s shocking decision to trade Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers, Kyrie Irving tearing his ACL, or nearly every big man on the roster suffering an injury.
One of the biggest questions following the Dončić trade was how Anthony Davis would perform in a completely new system alongside an unfamiliar supporting cast. His debut on February 8 against the Houston Rockets couldn’t have started any better — he posted 26 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists, and three blocks in a dominant showing. However, what began as a promising start was cut short when Davis exited the game in the third quarter.
The diagnosis? An adductor strain that sidelined him for over a month, effectively leaving Dallas without their primary return in the Dončić trade. Davis recently addressed his premature return against the Rockets and whether it was the right decision.
“If I could do it over, I would probably take a couple more days,” Davis admitted. He pointed to the unexpected travel demands of the trade, a lack of proper treatment gear, and "three days of not treating [the injury] and being on a protocol that I’ve been on.”
Before his Mavericks debut, Davis had already been recovering from an ankle injury suffered against the Golden State Warriors on Christmas Day, which kept him out for just over a week. Whether the organization felt added pressure to rush him back after dealing away one of the NBA’s top superstars is a question that may never be fully answered — but it’s fair to assume his return may not have been handled with the utmost caution.
Dallas spiraled after Davis was ruled out for the following weeks, suffering through one of their worst stretches of the season. They opened March by losing nine of their first ten games. Although the Mavericks briefly fell below the 10th seed, the pressure on the remaining roster to stay competitive reached an all-time high.
Since Davis’ return on March 24, the Mavericks have won three of their last four games, holding a two-game lead over the Phoenix Suns for the ninth seed in the Play-In Tournament. However, Davis has struggled mightily, averaging just 15.0 points and 6.7 rebounds on 35.5 percent shooting, including a disastrous 9.1 percent from three. Unless Dallas eases his current minutes restriction, they’ll have only a handful of opportunities to get him fully prepared for the postseason.
Even if the Mavericks secure a spot, expectations around the league remain low. For now, Davis is tasked with salvaging a season that still feels defined by the shocking trade that sent Luka Dončić out of Dallas.