Man, it never ends.
If you’re a Dallas Mavericks fan—or just someone who follows the NBA drama—you probably woke up to a notification that made your heart sink. Anthony Davis injured today isn't just a headline; it feels like a recurring nightmare for anyone who bet on the Mavs' "new era."
One minute, people are talking about playoff seeding and Cooper Flagg's rookie development. The next, everyone is refreshing X to see if Davis is actually going under the knife or if he’s just trolling the insiders again. Honestly, the chaos around this hand injury is a perfect microcosm of his entire tenure in Dallas.
The Latest: No Surgery, But No AD Either
Here is the deal. On Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning, the medical reports finally cleared up the fog. After meeting with specialist Dr. Steven Shin in Los Angeles, it was determined that Anthony Davis won't require surgery on his left hand.
That sounds like good news, right? Sorta.
He’s still out for at least six weeks.
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The injury happened last Thursday during a game against the Utah Jazz. Davis was trying to defend a drive by Lauri Markkanen and basically got his hand caught in the blender of high-stakes defense. He left the game in obvious pain, holding that left hand like it was made of glass.
Initially, the reports were grim. Shams Charania and the ESPN crew were hinting at surgery and a "several-month" absence. AD, in classic fashion, fired back on social media, calling the reports "lies" and telling everyone to stop listening to the apps. It was a weird, tense standoff between a star player and the media machine.
But now we have the team's official word. He’ll be re-evaluated in late February. That means the Mavericks are basically steering a ship with no anchor for the next month and a half.
Why This Timing is Absolute Garbage
The NBA trade deadline is February 5.
Think about that.
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If Davis is "out for six weeks," he won't be back on the floor until after the deadline passes. This puts the Mavericks' front office in a brutal spot. Do you keep him and hope he’s the "missing piece" for a playoff run in March? Or do you take the discount and trade him now while teams like the Toronto Raptors or Atlanta Hawks are still sniffing around for a big man?
"Y'all better stop listening to all these lies on these apps!" - Anthony Davis on X.
It's funny. Well, not "haha" funny, more "if I don't laugh I'll cry" funny.
Since Dallas pulled off that blockbuster trade for Davis—sending Luka Doncic to the Lakers—it’s been a disaster. Davis has missed about half of his games in a Mavs uniform. We’re talking calf strains, groin issues, and now the hand. He’s played in just 29 regular-season games for Dallas.
The Reality of the "Glass" Narrative
People love to call him "Street Clothes." It’s a mean-spirited nickname, but when you look at the stats, it’s hard to argue with the frustration.
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- Availability: Missed 40 of 71 games since joining Dallas.
- Performance: Averaging 20.4 points and 11.1 rebounds—good, but not "trade-your-franchise-player" good.
- The Flagg Factor: With rookie Cooper Flagg looking like a future superstar, the Mavs might actually be better off leaning into the youth movement.
Is he still an elite defender? Absolutely. When he’s on the floor, the Mavericks' interior defense is actually scary. But you can't guard the rim from the training room.
What This Means for Your Fantasy Team and the Standings
If you have AD in fantasy, you’re probably looking at the waiver wire right now with a tear in your eye. Six weeks is a lifetime in the NBA.
For the Mavericks, they’re currently sitting 12th in the West. That’s bad. Without Davis, their winning percentage takes a massive dive. They are 10-10 when he plays and a miserable 5-15 when he doesn't.
What to Watch For Next
- The Trade Market: Watch for Shams or Woj to drop a "deal is heating up" bomb. Teams might still gamble on AD if they think he’s the piece that gets them past the second round in May.
- Kyrie Irving's Return: Kyrie is still working his way back from that ACL tear. If he comes back while AD is out, the Mavericks might stay afloat. If not, they’re looking at another lottery pick.
- Cooper Flagg's Usage: Expect the rookie to see even more touches. This is his team now, whether the vets like it or not.
Honestly, the "Anthony Davis injured today" cycle is exhausting. We want to see the best players on the court. We want to see if the Doncic trade was actually a long-term win for anyone. But right now, all we have is a star big man in a splint and a front office with some impossible decisions to make.
If you're looking for a silver lining, at least there's no surgery. He’ll be back. The only question is: what jersey will he be wearing when he does?
Your Next Steps:
- Monitor the Mavericks’ injury report every Tuesday for the official re-evaluation notes.
- Check the February 5 trade deadline trackers specifically for "salary match" deals involving AD’s $54M contract.
- Pivot your betting strategy to the "Under" on Mavs total wins for the next 15 games; the data shows they struggle immensely without his rim protection.