Anthony Davis’ season with the Dallas Mavericks risks taking an even more complicated turn. The American big man has suffered ligament damage in his left hand, an injury that could lead to surgery and a layoff of several months.
The incident dates back to the closing moments of the road loss against the Utah Jazz, when Davis hurt himself while defending Lauri Markkanen.
The Mavericks have confirmed the severity of the issue, explaining that the player will undergo further medical consultations to determine whether surgery can be avoided.
Anthony wants to have a complete picture before making a final decision
Mavs insider
Long layoff even without surgery
If a conservative approach is chosen, without surgery, the absence would still be significant: at least six weeks. A scenario that weighs not only on the Mavs’ present, but also on their market strategy ahead of the February 5 trade deadline.
Dallas is aggressively exploring the market for the 32-year-old, but the situation is far from simple. Complicating matters are his recurring durability issues and Davis’ desire to sign a major contract extension as early as next offseason.
Heavy contract and delicate decisions
From a financial standpoint, the investment remains enormous. Davis is under contract for $58.5 million next season and holds a $62.8 million player option for 2027–28. Figures that make every technical and medical decision even more delicate for the Texas front office.
A career marked by injuries
Since arriving in Dallas in February 2025 as the centerpiece of the much-debated trade involving Luka DoncicDavis has struggled to find continuity. In total, he has played just 29 regular-season games, plus a few play-in appearances.
At the time of the trade, he was already recovering from an abdominal strain. His debut with the new jersey was then followed by an adductor issue that sidelined him for six weeks.
This season, he missed 14 games in November due to a left calf strain, with his return delayed further by a cautious approach from ownership. On Christmas Day against Golden Stateanother adductor issue caused an additional brief absence.
Now Dallas faces a crossroads: wait, operate, or change direction on the market. Any choice will have deep consequences for the Mavericks’ technical and financial project.
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