Mavericks Are Learning What Lakers Always Knew About Anthony Davis: AD Is Dominant, But His Injury History Is Real

The Dallas Mavericks’ blockbuster acquisition of Anthony Davis in February 2025 was meant to signal a bold win-now push, pairing the 10-time All-Star with Kyrie Irving and rookie phenom Cooper Flagg after shipping Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers. Nearly a year later, as the 2025-26 season reaches its midpoint, Dallas is confronting a harsh reality that Lakers fans endured for years: When healthy, Davis is an unstoppable force capable of dominating both ends of the floor. But “when healthy” has proven elusive, with his extensive injury history turning what was supposed to be a championship core into a fragile, inconsistent unit.

Through early January 2026, Davis has appeared in just 18 of Dallas’ 32 games, battling a series of ailments including a lingering left calf strain that sidelined him for weeks early in the season and a recent right adductor/groin strain suffered on Christmas Day against the Golden State Warriors. The Mavericks sit at a disappointing 12-20, mired in 11th place in the Western Conference. The splits are stark: Dallas is a respectable 9-9 when Davis plays, but a dismal 4-14 when he sits—a trend that echoes his time in Los Angeles, where the Lakers often thrived with him but crumbled without.

This pattern isn’t new. Lakers supporters long accepted that Davis’s brilliance came with a caveat: durability issues that limited his availability and forced load management. Now, the Mavericks—under interim leadership following Nico Harrison’s departure—are grappling with the same truth, as trade rumors swirl around the 32-year-old big man ahead of the February 5 deadline.

Davis’s Dominance: The Highs That Make Him Worth the Risk

When on the court, Davis remains one of the league’s most impactful players. In his 18 games this season, he’s averaging around 20.5 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.7 blocks on efficient shooting. His defensive anchoring transforms Dallas: The Mavericks’ net rating improves dramatically with him in the lineup, thanks to his elite rim protection and switchability.

Highlights include multiple 30-point outings before his latest injury, such as a 31-point, nine-rebound performance in a win over Denver. Paired with Flagg’s emerging two-way play, Davis provides the veteran presence and interior dominance that elevates the roster. Head coach Jason Kidd has repeatedly praised Davis’s leadership and on-court IQ, noting how his gravity opens driving lanes for others.

Lakers fans knew this version of AD all too well—the one who anchored the 2020 championship bubble run, earning All-NBA and All-Defensive honors while posting monster stats. In healthy stretches, he’s a perennial MVP candidate, blending scoring versatility, rebounding prowess, and shot-blocking that few can match.

The Injury Reality: A Career-Long Battle

Unfortunately, those healthy stretches have been the exception rather than the rule. Davis’s injury history dates back to his rookie year with the New Orleans Pelicans in 2012-13, when a stress fracture in his left foot limited him to 64 games. Over 14 seasons, he’s missed over 240 games due to a litany of ailments: sprained ankles, shoulders, backs; fractured hands; torn labrums; Achilles tendinopathy; and recurring groin/adductor issues.

Key lowlights:

• 2014-15: Missed significant time with shoulder and ankle injuries.
• 2020-21: Only 36 games played due to calf and Achilles problems.
• 2021-22: 40 games amid various lower-body woes.
• Even his “healthy” 2023-24 season with the Lakers saw him play 76 games, but prior years rarely topped 60.

Since joining Dallas, the pattern has intensified. He arrived carrying an abdominal strain, strained his adductor in his debut (missing weeks), and has now dealt with bilateral Achilles issues, calf strains, and the latest groin setback. Overall, Davis has suited up for just 27 of a possible 67 regular-season games in a Mavericks uniform (plus limited playoff action last year).

The Mavericks’ record without him—now 4-14 this season and 11-30 since his arrival—underscores the dependency. Frontcourt depth evaporates, rebounding suffers, and rim protection vanishes, turning competitive games into blowouts.

Why Dallas Is Feeling the Lakers’ Pain Now

The Lakers managed Davis’s load meticulously, often resting him in back-to-backs and prioritizing playoff health. They built rosters with redundant bigs to mitigate absences, yet still faced criticism for over-reliance on an injury-prone star. Dallas, betting on Davis as the cornerstone post-Dončić, lacks that buffer—especially with Dereck Lively II out long-term and Kyrie Irving recovering from his own ACL tear.

Recent reports highlight the strain: After the Christmas groin injury (initially spasms, later a minor strain), Davis missed multiple games, contributing to losses that dropped Dallas further in the standings. Sources indicate optimism for a quick return, but the cycle feels familiar—brief dominance followed by sidelining.

Trade speculation has ramped up accordingly. The Mavericks are fielding calls on Davis, seeking young talent (e.g., Jonathan Kuminga or Zaccharie Risacher) and picks to pivot around Flagg. Potential suitors like the Warriors, Clippers, Bucks, Hawks, and others weigh his upside against the risk. His massive contract ($54+ million this year, extension-eligible) and age add complexity.

Insiders note Dallas’s patience is waning; without consistent availability, pairing Davis with Irving (when he returns) and Flagg may never materialize fully.

Implications for the Mavericks’ Future

Owner Patrick Dumont and Kidd preach development around Flagg, the 19-year-old Rookie of the Month sensation. But Davis’s absences expose roster flaws, forcing reliance on unproven depth like Daniel Gafford (himself trade bait) and P.J. Washington.

If Dallas moves Davis, it accelerates a retool: Recouping assets lost in prior deals while clearing cap for youth. Retaining him risks more of the same—flashes of brilliance interrupted by injury reports.

Fan reactions mirror Lakers’ past frustrations: Appreciation for AD’s talent mixed with exasperation over “Street Clothes” narratives. Social media buzzes with debates—trade now while value peaks, or hold for a healthy run?

The Broader Lesson: Elite Talent Comes With Trade-Offs

Anthony Davis embodies the NBA’s high-risk, high-reward archetype. Dominant when available, he’s propelled teams to contention. But his body—tall, explosive, constantly battered—betrays him too often.

The Lakers learned to navigate it, winning a title despite the hurdles. Now, the Mavericks are in class, discovering the same bittersweet truth: AD can change games like few others, but banking on his health is a gamble.

As the deadline nears, Dallas must decide: Double down on the potential, or cut losses and build sustainably around Flagg? One thing is clear—the injury history isn’t going away.