Anthony Davis is undoubtedly one of the best players in the NBA. The nine-time All-Star has built a legendary career, including winning a championship thanks to his prolific shot-blocking and dominant inside presence.
Recently, the 31-year-old was part of one of the biggest trades in NBA history, moving to the Dallas Mavericks in return for Luka Dončić. While the trade was heavily criticized, the Mavericks still received one of the league’s premier talents in Davis.
However, his time in Dallas was short-lived as he played one game before suffering from a left adductor strain. Despite his dominance throughout his career, injuries are a recurring occurrence for Davis. Here is a look at how injuries affected him throughout his career.
How Many Games Has Anthony Davis Missed Throughout His Career
Throughout the 13 seasons of his career, Davis has missed a total of 244 games throughout his time with the New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Lakers, and now the Dallas Mavericks, as of March 4, 2025.
During his rookie season (2012-13), Davis played 64 games out of 82 due to a stress fracture in his left foot. In his second season (2013-14), he sustained several different injuries, including a fractured hand, a discolored left index finger, a sprained left shoulder, and back spasms that forced him to sit out 15 games.
He finally found some success in his third season (2015-16), taking the Pelicans to the playoffs, but he struggled with more injuries, missing 14 games that season due to a sprained toe.
The following season (2015-16), he sat out 21 games due to a torn labrum and left knee injury. Davis spent the next two seasons (2016-18) predominantly healthy, playing 75 games in both seasons. These were his final two years as a member of the Pelicans.
Injury Issues in Los Angeles, Dallas
Davis was traded to Los Angeles for the 2019-20 season, during which he missed just nine games, along with helping the Lakers win a championship.
The 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons were injury riddled for Davis. He only played 36 games due to a calf and Achilles tear. The following season he missed 40 games due to an MCL sprain in his left knee and a right ankle injury.
He was mostly healthy during his final two seasons in Los Angeles. The 2024-25 season was largely healthy for Davis until just before arriving in Dallas, where he would get injured again in his first game in a Mavericks uniform. There is a likelihood that he may be out for the remainder of the season in Dallas after Kyrie Irving suffered a torn ACL.
There’s a lot that has been said about Davis, he is often on the sideline nursing injuries. However, no matter what you say about him, you cannot deny that he continues to play at a high level after dealing with injuries.
