The Anthony Davis era has officially begun in Dallas. And for Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison, there might not have been a better start he could have scripted. Through the first half, Davis had 24 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, and three blocks to his credit.
Then… Davis got hurt.
In the second half of his Mavericks debut, Davis fell to his knees on defense after suffering an injury. In what was already a rough week for Mavericks fans, the centerpiece of the Luka Dončić trade suffered a significant injury. Let’s examine how long Davis will out.
What Happened to Anthony Davis?
It all seemed too good to be true. Dallas fans, on account of losing their franchise cornerstone in Dončić, were livid at their team and its front office. But a masterful performance from Davis was turning them into believers on Day 1.
He was the first player to tally 20-10-5-3 in a half in the last 25 years. But as the Mavs’ lead evaporated to single digits, Davis was back on defense with 2:22 left in the third.
Houston began running its set with a screen incoming for Jalen Green. While they missed the ensuing shot, Davis suddenly went down on his knees inside the paint, seemingly holding his groin.
It turns out the 10-time All-Star suffered an
Initially, the Mavs described it as a “lower-body injury.” Now, NBA insider Marc Stein reported that Davis suffered an adductor injury.
How Long Will Davis Be Out?
At the time of the injury, Davis was leading all Mavericks in points (26), rebounds (16), assists (seven), and blocks (three) in what was shaping up to be one of the greatest debuts in franchise history, if not the entire NBA.
However, the injury put a dark cloud over the entire proceedings and the future of the Mavericks.
Now, the news is even worse. Stein reported that Davis “will be sidelined for an indefinite period.” The team needs to determine the severity of his adductor injury, but the fact that he’ll be out indefinitely isn’t a good sign.
It is feared that the Mavericks’ newly acquired Anthony Davis will be sidelined for an indefinite period … with the severity of his adductor injury sustained Saturday still being determined, league sources tell @TheSteinLine. https://t.co/2P74GniZwP
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 10, 2025
It’s worth noting that Dallas might choose to exercise caution with someone like Davis.
When the trade first went through, Davis’ injury risk was one of the biggest critiques fans levied against the move. Due to his age (turning 32 in February) and lengthy injury history, fans felt like the 2020 NBA champion was a poor replacement for Dončić.
In fact, Davis has a history of suffering adductor injuries. As Jeff Stotts noted: “The adductor muscles are more commonly known as the groin. A multi-week absence suggests a more moderate strain.
“Worth noting AD has a history of low-grade left adductor strains dating back to his time in New Orleans. He has also been nursing an abdominal strain that could be connected to this issue. According to Stein, Dallas is still exploring treatment options.”
Now, this injury might put the entire season at risk for a Dallas team that’s currently in the play-in picture as the eighth seed in a tight Western Conference race.
An extended absence for Davis could potentially spell disaster for the Mavs and knock them out of the running for a postseason berth entirely.
