Gilbert Arenas shared a unique perspective on why the Dallas Mavericks shouldn’t rush Anthony Davis back from injury. While the Mavs’ title hopes for this season appear all but over, Arenas took notice of Davis’ return. The former NBA star discussed its unspoken implications on his podcast.
Gilbert Arenas Says Anthony Davis’ Return Hurts Mavs’ Lottery Odds
With the 2024-25 NBA season underway, things have gone from bad to worse for the Mavericks. In fact, words may not fully capture how much the franchise has unraveled over the past year. After trading away their cornerstone player and generational talent for Davis, the Mavs lost their prized acquisition after just one game. He suffered an injury that sidelined him for six weeks.
The Western Conference remains tightly contested, with most teams separated by a small margin in the standings. The Mavs, plagued by injuries to key players, currently sit 10th in the West, just one game ahead of the Phoenix Suns. That means Dallas would need to win two straight play-in tournament games to secure the eighth seed. Meanwhile, the surging Suns could leapfrog them before the season ends.
Arenas, an 11-year NBA veteran and three-time All-Star, was asked if Davis’ return actually helps the Mavericks. His response was blunt.
“Yeah, I respect any player that wants to go out there and play and give it his all. But is it a smart move? No. I mean, bringing him back to potentially get hurt again? Not smart. Even if he plays healthy all the way through the season, what does it do besides take you out of the lottery?”
"I mean, bringing him back to potentially get hurt again. Not smart. Even if he plays healthy all the way through the season, what did it do besides take [the Mavs] out of the lottery?"
Gilbert Arenas on Anthony Davis 🗣️
(via @GilsArenaShow)pic.twitter.com/FjNtGUV36D
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 29, 2025
The teams that miss out on the playoffs in each conference are entered into the NBA’s lottery, meaning the teams with fewer wins have better odds of landing a high pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.
“So if you got the third pick in the NBA Draft, you’re saying that’s not worth sitting AD for? You f*** around get the third pick, and [Ace] Bailey is there, and you’re talking about adding that type of player to that roster. Starting or coming off the bench, that is a very good move.”
Bailey, one of the most highly touted prospects in this year’s draft, is expected to be an early pick in the upcoming draft alongside college stars like Cooper Flagg. If the Mavs opted to sit Davis and tank the rest of the season, their chances of improving next year could increase dramatically if they landed a top pick.
With Kyrie Irving recently undergoing surgery and potentially not being fully ready for the start of next season, the logic behind resting Davis makes sense. However, Arenas may be overlooking one factor: the emotional impact on fans. The Mavs’ fanbase is already at an all-time low after watching their defending Western Conference champions spiral into a disastrous season.
While it’s true that the Mavericks would be able to improve their lottery odds by tanking away the rest of the season, with a record of 36-38, Dallas would not be able to significantly improve their lottery odds enough to confidently be in range to take a player like Bailey.
Dallas is currently 13th in odds, with just a 4.8% chance to jump into the top four picks.