Anthony Davis is facing another setback with a ligament injury in his left hand. The Dallas Mavericks announced that he is consulting multiple specialists to explore his treatment options. However, there’s no timeline yet for his return.
Davis got hurt late in a close game against the Utah Jazz. His pain was evident while sitting on the bench, and he later went to the locker room. An MRI confirmed the injury. This situation raises concerns for the Mavericks, who are still navigating the aftermath of last year’s trade that sent their star player, Luka Doncic, to the Los Angeles Lakers.
General manager Nico Harrison, who orchestrated the trade, was let go in November after the team struggled early in the season. Currently, the Mavericks are struggling, sitting 10 games below .500 and out of playoff contention—hard to believe considering they were in the NBA Finals less than two years ago.
The injury adds another layer of complexity. Speculation about a potential trade for Davis has circulated, but those rumors depended on his health. Given his current condition, he might miss the February 5 trade deadline. This season, Davis is averaging 20.4 points and 11.1 rebounds per game.
It’s worth noting that Davis has missed 18 of the Mavericks’ first 38 games this season due to calf and groin injuries. He was already dealing with an abdominal issue when he joined the team last February and aggravated it during his debut, sidelining him for another 18 games.
The franchise is also keeping an eye on Kyrie Irving, who is recovering from a torn ACL. Experts suggest that Irving may not play at all this season, which would significantly impact Dallas’s performance. The Mavericks are in a tough spot without two of their stars, making it harder to climb the standings.
Rookie Cooper Flagg has shown potential, but the team’s outlook looks bleak without Davis and Irving. Dallas owns its first-round pick this year, but not for the next four drafts, making every game even more critical.
Historically, the Mavericks were in a similar situation in 2018 when they were focused on drafting Luka Doncic. They had the fifth overall pick and traded with Atlanta, which selected Doncic third overall. Reflecting on how the franchise’s decisions have shaped their future is sobering as they now search for a way out of adversity.
Despite these challenges, Dallas made it to the play-in tournament last season and had a brief postseason run. Missing this year’s playoffs could push them into the draft lottery again, where they previously won despite just a 1.8% chance. It shows how unpredictable and crucial every season can be for shaping team dynamics.
For more on this injury and its implications, you can follow updates from reliable sources like ESPN or the official Dallas Mavericks website.
Source link
Anthony Davis injury
