Once again, the Dallas Mavericks are dealing with an injury concern regarding Anthony Davis.
As the Mavs battled on Christmas Day, Davis left the game with an apparent groin injury. He underwent testing on Friday morning to check on the severity of the setback.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Davis has “sustained a minor groin injury.” There isn’t a definite timeline in place, but Charania reports that Davis is likely to miss a few games going forward.
However, just because the initial timeline is believed to be a small string of absences doesn’t mean that Davis is totally cleared for dealing with a notable setback.
The Stein Line’s Marc Stein added that while the initial read on Davis doesn’t suggest there is a long-term absence in play, the team is still determining an official timeline for his return. A few games seem guaranteed. Beyond that, it remains very unclear at this time.
NBA Fans React to Anthony Davis' Setback
via @_Beardri: New jersey, same hospital. Anthony Davis is the only player in history to have a 'Day-to-Davis' sponsorship across two different time zones. Mavs fans, welcome to the cycle
@C_A_R_L_A_M_A_R: Translated: if Anthony Davis got traded today, he would be able to play tomorrow.
@Richestmarvels: And people really thought he’d stay healthy outside of LA? Same story, different jersey. Mavs fans, welcome to the AD experience
@UnleDemi: Some ppl bodies literally won’t allow them to be great. AD, TMac, Penny, Rose, Embiid, Grant Hill… this list just goes on and on…
@PlugThaZeus: Best big in the league constantly hindered by injuries. Why are we robbed of great hoops due to injuries so consistently around the league
@FullAccessHoops: You simply can’t trade for AD. It’s a shame but his body is just not built for sustainability. It’s unfortunate.
@kjem22: Traded Luka for him btw
Davis has an extensive injury history, which was a concern long before he landed on the Mavericks last season. Last year, Davis played in just nine games for the Mavericks, despite getting traded with several months left on the schedule. This season, injuries have kept him off the court for nearly half the year so far.
After the Christmas Day loss against the Golden State Warriors, Davis had 16 games under his belt. The veteran averaged 29.9 minutes on the court. He posted averages of 20.5 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.3 steals.
Following a disappointing loss against the Warriors, the Mavericks are now 12-20 on the year. They are sitting 11th in the Western Conference with the same amount of wins as the Portland Trail Blazers.
Davis’ future in Dallas was already murky before his recent setback. As the Mavs continue to struggle, the veteran star forward has been viewed as a potential trade chip out in Dallas before this year’s deadline. As the injuries pile up, Davis’ value will likely continue to dip.
The Mavericks will take on the Sacramento Kings, Portland Trail Blazers, and the Philadelphia 76ers over their next three games. If Davis misses at least three games, his first game back could take place on January 3 against the Houston Rockets.