The Dallas Mavericks’ early-season struggles have taken another sharp turn after reports surfaced that former general manager Nico Harrison urged Anthony Davis to return from injury, despite medical warnings that doing so could risk a torn Achilles.
Nico Harrison Wanted Anthony Davis To Return Despite Medical Warnings
According to The Athletic, Harrison pushed for Davis to get back on the floor even as the Mavericks’ medical staff stood firm, refusing to clear the star big man.
“Monday’s loss to the Bucks marked the sixth straight game Davis has missed with a left calf strain. Multiple league sources said Davis has tried to convince the Mavs to let him return to the court, and Harrison urged him to return, but the team’s medical staff forbade it, citing the potential for a torn Achilles if Davis returned too soon,” the outlet reported.
The revelation arrives just a day after the Mavericks fired Harrison — a move that shocked fans nearly as much as his controversial decision to trade Luka Dončić to the Lakers for Davis nine months ago.
Patrick Dumont Steps In As Davis’ Return Remains Unclear
Davis, who’s been limited to just 14 games since joining Dallas last February, has battled one injury after another, from an adductor issue last season to his current calf strain. When healthy, he’s averaged 20.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists so far this season, proving he can still be dominant. But his availability has been a persistent problem.
Sources told The Athletic that both Davis and Harrison pushed for a quicker return, while team governor Patrick Dumont intervened to demand medical verification before allowing Davis back.
ESPN added that Dumont “requested medical data indicating that Davis is not at risk of aggravating his left calf strain before giving a green light for the 10-time All-Star big man to return.”
Despite being listed as questionable for multiple games, Davis has now been officially ruled out for Wednesday’s matchup against the Phoenix Suns, marking his seventh straight missed game.
The Mavericks, sitting at 3-8, have fallen far short of expectations despite adding top rookie Cooper Flagg and veteran guard D’Angelo Russell. The franchise had hoped the combination of Davis, Flagg, Klay Thompson, and Russell would keep them competitive in the West, but chemistry and consistency have been hard to find.
With Harrison’s firing, Dumont is reportedly aiming to reset the team’s direction and repair the growing disconnect between management, players, and fans.
The front office’s handling of Davis’ injury situation and the controversy around whether he was rushed back only adds to the turbulence surrounding a team still struggling to recover from last season’s chaotic overhaul.
Davis’ return timeline remains uncertain, and with the Mavericks already losing ground early, the pressure to maintain competitiveness is mounting fast in Dallas.
