The dust has settled after the play-in game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Memphis Grizzlies. And with it, the rollercoaster season of the Mavericks is over. But one Maverick walked off the court with a heavy stat line and possibly an even heavier heart: Anthony Davis.
After falling 120-106 to the Grizzlies in a do-or-die clash, Dallas’s playoff hopes were officially buried. And when asked to put it all into perspective postgame? Davis’s raw honesty hit just as hard as any of his rim-rocking dunks.
Anthony Davis Drops 40, But Dallas Still Drops The Ball
If Dallas was going down, it wasn’t going to be because Davis didn’t show up. The veteran forward exploded for 40 points, nine boards, two assists, a steal, and a block. Basically, doing everything short of driving the team bus. He even tried to stretch the floor with seven 3-point attempts, and made two.
But all the offensive onslaught wasn’t enough to stop the Grizzlies. Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. led from the front, and the Grizzlies topped Dallas early. Well, they jumped out to a 25-point lead and never truly looked back. Even after a brief Mavericks run shaved the deficit to single digits, they didn’t have enough to overcome the Grizzlies.
And when the postgame questions started rolling in? Davis didn’t sugarcoat it.
“I haven’t even had a chance to reflect about the season, about everything,” he said when asked about what he has learnt about himself since the trade. “So I can’t even answer that question. The answer I’d be giving you would be bulls**t & I’m not going to do that.”
Asked Anthony Davis what he's learned about himself over the last 2 months:
"I haven't even had a chance to reflect about the season, about everything so I can't even answer that question. The answer I'd be giving you would be bullshit & I'm not going to do that. You ask me in a…
— Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) April 19, 2025
The 13-year veteran, who’s played for the New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Lakers, and now the Mavericks, kept it real and said: “You ask me in a week or so or a couple of weeks & I’ll have a better answer for you.”
What’s Next for Anthony Davis and the Mavericks?
Anthony Davis isn’t the only one who needs some time to process the season. Dallas fans have been through a whirlwind campaign filled with hope, setbacks, and a trade deadline earthquake that sent Luka Doncic to Los Angeles. That move put the full weight of the franchise squarely on Davis’s shoulders.
Injuries didn’t help. Kyrie Irving missed the final stretch of the season after tearing the ACL in his left knee, and his return timetable extends well into next year. Davis was also haunted by a left adductor strain since he arrived in Dallas. That led to the Mavericks struggling to find a consistent starting lineup.
As for the big man himself, his focus now shifts to recovery and gearing up for the 2025-26 season. He’ll have a full offseason to work on his health and the chemistry with the current group. If Irving returns on schedule, Dallas could be a contending team next season.