Anthony Davis limped through the most challenging season of his career, battling injuries that would sideline most players for months. But the big man kept fighting, even as his body broke down and his new team’s playoff hopes crumbled around him. Now, with surgery behind him and training camp approaching, Dallas is betting everything on his return to form.
How Will Anthony Davis’ Health Impact the Mavericks’ Championship Push?
The Dallas Mavericks shocked the basketball world by trading away Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers in February 2025. Although they lost a generational talent who was the cornerstone of their franchise, the Mavericks acquired big man Anthony Davis and Max Christie in return. Nico Harrison claimed that the goal was to bolster their defense to win championships.
However, Davis’ career has been riddled with multiple injuries in recent years. During the 2024-25 season, Davis managed to feature in only 51 games for the Mavericks and Lakers combined.
Unfortunately for the big man, he suffered an adductor injury in his first game for the Dallas team and was forced to miss more than a month. This seriously dented the Mavs’ hopes to qualify for the playoffs, and Kyrie Irving’s ACL tear just added to the long list of worries for Jason Kidd.
That wasn’t the only injury that Davis struggled with during the 2024-25 campaign. The former NBA champion had also suffered a detached retina during the season, although how it happened remains unknown. Reports say that Davis has been hit several times in the face during the season, including against the Atlanta Hawks on April 2.
Now, he has undergone a successful surgery, and Shams Charania has claimed that he is expected to feature in the Mavericks’ next training camp.
Dallas Mavericks All-Star Anthony Davis underwent a procedure to repair a detached retina that he suffered during the season, sources tell ESPN. Davis played through multiple hits to the face last year. He is expected to be healthy for next training camp. pic.twitter.com/Yz8vxBlp06
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 8, 2025
“Anthony Davis underwent a procedure to repair a detached retina that he suffered during the season, sources tell ESPN. Davis played through multiple hits to the face last year. He is expected to be healthy for next training camp,” the insider wrote.
What Do Davis’ Numbers Tell Us About His Resilience?
Despite several major injuries throughout the season, Davis still managed to give everything he had on the floor. The 10-time All-Star still managed to average a double-double, putting up 24.7 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. This production becomes even more remarkable considering the off-court drama he had to deal with during the trade, as well as the change of environment from Los Angeles to Dallas.
Davis’ injury return will surely provide a huge boost for the Mavs, who are looking to go all-in for the 2025-26 season. They just drafted another generational talent in Cooper Flagg and signed Kyrie Irving to a contract extension. But the flashy ball-handler did mention that there was little chance for him to return for the 2026 playoffs.
To replace Irving for the time being, the Mavericks have also signed another former Lakers player, D’Angelo Russell, on an $11.7 million deal. Russell will surely have enough minutes to prove that he belongs in Dallas, which would be crucial for his career after a turbulent stint in Los Angeles.
