Anthony Davis’ tenure in Dallas did not kick off the way he expected. Still shaken up by the shocking trade from LA, the big man suffered an adductor injury in his very first game for the Mavs, sidelining him indefinitely. While AD was out, he helplessly watched his new team struggle to win games and deal with constant injuries. And ‘The Brow’ detailed the gut-wrenching scenes after returning from his 18-game hiatus last night.
“Yeah, I mean, it was tough. Obviously to see these guys battling every single night, winning close games, losing close games, blowing teams out, getting blown out, you know they landed on the line,” he said during the post-game presser. Since Luka Doncic’s departure and Davis’ unfortunate debut, the Mavs have fallen to the eleventh seed in the West.
Revealing the team’s struggles during his absence, Anthony said, “I mean, ten guys come to locker room after games and leaving it out on the floor, laying on the floor. Locker room just gassing to the point of exhaustion.” During AD’s recovery, the Mavs lost Kyrie Irving for the season due to an ACL injury. Meanwhile, several other stars, including Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, and Caleb Martin, were sidelined with their injury woes. At one point earlier this month, a video of only 7 Mavs players warming up before a game went viral, highlighting the team’s heartbreaking state.
That’s why AD was motivated to return as soon as possible—to give his teammates a sense of relief (and whatever fighting chance was left). “There was no doubt I was gonna come back and play, but that makes you wanna come out and play with these guys. They leave it on the floor and battle each and every night. As one of the leaders on the team, I just wanna go out there and do as much as I can to get them a breather at least,” he said, clearly explaining it was his goal from Day 1.
Davis did exactly that last night as he scored 12 points on his return and led the Mavs to a blowout victory against the Nets. However, there are still some unanswered questions about his injury.
Anthony Davis “not sure” if past issues led to adductor injury but claims he “feels great”
Now that Davis is back, Dallas fans would not want to lose him again by risking another setback. So, a reporter inquired AD, after last night’s game, to confirm whether his adductor injury was a result of his past health issues during his time in LA. However, the superstar forward was not fully aware of it. “I don’t know. You gotta talk to the doctors. Not 100% sure. I mean, obviously everything in your body’s connected. But a direct correlation, I’m not sure,” he shared.
Feb 8, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) looks on during the second quarter against the Houston Rockets at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Moreover, AD assured that he is feeling much better now and is ready to finish the season strong, “I feel great. Physically, I felt great. It’s the mental aspect when you’re coming off something like that, to mentally be ready to go out and play. I was mentally ready, but then again, it’s a game action where you can’t really anticipate what the opposing team’s gonna do. So, I overcame that in the first minute or so… For the most part, I felt great out there.” That’s great news for the Dallas fanbase.
While their chances are looking bleak, Davis’ return could help them reach the play-in tournament. Obviously, a deep playoff run seems unlikely without Kyrie and other injured stars, but a strong finish to the year will boost the team’s confidence for next season. Do you agree?
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