The Dallas Mavericks will be without star forward Anthony Davis when they take on the Detroit Pistons in Mexico City on Saturday.
According to longtime NBA insider Marc Stein, the Mavericks “indeed plan to hold Anthony Davis (left lower leg) out Saturday in Mexico City and take a cautious approach.”
Davis exited Wednesday’s 107–105 win over the Indiana Pacers after landing awkwardly midway through the first quarter. He was seen clutching his lower leg before limping off the court.
“He tried to return,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said after the game. “Didn’t want to take any chances. We’ll see how he feels going forward.”
During Friday’s media availability, Kidd described Davis’ status as day-to-day, without elaborating.
Davis’ Injury History Haunts Mavericks’ Early Season
The latest setback continues a troubling pattern for the 10-time All-Star, who has battled injuries throughout his career.
Since being traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Mavericks last season in a blockbuster deal for Luka Dončić, Davis has yet to regain full durability. He appeared in only nine games for Dallas last year due to an adductor strain, then underwent offseason surgery to repair a detached retina in his right eye.
He reported to training camp this fall at 268 pounds — roughly 15 pounds heavier than his previous playing weight, according to The Athletic.
Richard Jefferson Rips Davis’ Conditioning: ‘It Was Bound to Happen’
ESPN analyst Richard Jefferson did not mince words when discussing Davis’ latest injury, blaming it on poor conditioning.
“How many times did you see players come into camp overweight and then deal with lower leg or calf injuries over the course of the year?” Jefferson said on the Road Trippin’ Podcast. “If you do this, the probability of it happening goes up exponentially.”
Jefferson added that Davis’ early-season setback was predictable.
“When we saw Anthony Davis walk into training camp and he looked a little heavy,” Jefferson said, “if you told me eight games in, he would have Achilles soreness, I’d believe it.”
Déjà Vu: Dallas Facing Same Problem It Tried to Escape
Ironically, Dallas finds itself in a familiar position. The Mavericks traded Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers last year in part due to frustration with his conditioning and recurring leg injuries.
Now, Davis — who was meant to represent a fresh start — is battling the same issues that once plagued the team’s former superstar.
Dončić missed 22 consecutive games last season with a lingering calf strain, and reports later surfaced that the Mavericks’ front office had grown frustrated with his fitness and lack of discipline. The team hoped Davis would bring defensive dominance and durability. Instead, the same narrative has resurfaced — only with different names.
Mavericks’ Frontcourt Depth Tested Amid Injury Crisis
The Mavericks are already short-handed with All-Star guard Kyrie Irving sidelined, and Davis’ absence further depletes their rotation.
Center Daniel Gafford remains out with a right ankle sprain, while Dereck Lively II has missed the past two games due to a right knee sprain.
Davis had been averaging 25.0 points and 11.8 rebounds through the Mavericks’ first four games — numbers that underscored his importance to the team’s new core.
With multiple starters hurt, the Mavericks will rely heavily on No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, who has an uneven start to his rookie season, P.J. Washington and Klay Thompson to try to keep them afloat.
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