Things appear to be going downhill steadily for the Dallas Mavericks. After stunning the NBA world by trading away Luka Dončić in return for Anthony Davis and Max Christie, the Mavericks lost Davis for an extended period after he strained his left adductor.
After a report on P.J. Washington was made public, fans took to social media to criticize the Mavericks’ medical staff, even calling for their firing.
Fans Hold Dallas Mavericks Medical Staff Accountable After P.J. Washington Injury
Injuries are common in the NBA, and the medical staff ensures players receive proper treatment and rehabilitation before they return to the court. Washington had already sustained an ankle injury and was slowly making a comeback, but reports revealed that the same injury sidelined him again.
The Mavs have to have the WORST training staff ever assembled by a professional sports team.
PJ Washington is now out again with the same ankle issue he came back from @dallasmavs pic.twitter.com/bhMZjga5NW
— NBA Film (@NBAFilmSessions) March 2, 2025
As a result, fans blamed the Mavericks’ medical staff for not following protocol and failing to ensure his complete recovery.
“That training staff needs to be fired,” one fan said.
That training staff needs to be fired
— Jess (@jessisthebst) March 2, 2025
I’m beginning to wonder if they even have a training staff
— Seth Pascale (@sethpascale) March 2, 2025
The dynamic between players and medical staff is complicated and generally unknown to the public. After all, one could argue the medical staff is helpless to prevent players from returning before fully recovering.
Since it is impossible to determine whether the staff was complacent, calling for termination might be an exaggerated reaction. This speaks to the growing frustration among Mavericks fans over their current situation.
Losing Washington, Davis, and several other team members certainly hurts the Mavericks’ chances of staying afloat in a competitive Western Conference. They must devise a plan to ensure they can win games with available personnel.
Moreover, their medical staff will be scrutinized significantly moving forward. If Washington or Davis return before they are ready and sustain another injury, Dallas’ season could be over.
