Anthony Davis will not require surgical intervention for the ligament damage in his left hand, an injury incurred during a recent defeat by the Utah Jazz. This information comes from ESPN’s Shams Charania, who updated an earlier report from Tuesday that initially suggested the Dallas Mavericks star would likely undergo an operation, potentially sidelining him for several months.
Davis, who reportedly sought a second medical opinion concerning the injury on Tuesday, seemed to object to the preliminary news. He responded cryptically on X shortly after Charania’s initial report, stating, “Everyone should stop believing these falsehoods on these platforms!”
The current expectation is that Davis’s condition will be reassessed in six weeks, according to Charania.
Nevertheless, Charania also reported on Tuesday that the Mavericks are still considering trading the ten-time All-Star, despite his anticipated absence extending past the NBA’s February 5 trade deadline. The Mavericks, with a 15-25 record, reportedly resumed trade discussions with several interested teams once the full extent of the injury became clear, as per Charania.
Davis, at 32 years old, has been regarded as a prime trade candidate for some time, though his latest injury setback could impact his market value. It is notable that following this year’s draft, the Mavericks will not possess control over their first-round draft pick again until 2031. Previously interested teams, including playoff contenders such as the Toronto Raptors and Atlanta Hawks, were mentioned by ESPN.
Last season, Davis played a central role in one of the league’s most surprising transactions when the Los Angeles Lakers transferred him to Dallas as part of a three-team exchange that saw five-time All-NBA first-team guard Luka Dončić move to L.A.
While Dončić has emerged as the cornerstone of the franchise where Davis secured a championship in the 2020 season, Davis has encountered a challenging tenure with the Mavericks.
The towering player has participated in merely 29 regular-season matchups, along with two play-in contests, since he was acquired last February by the then-Dallas general manager Nico Harrison.
After the trade, the former top overall draft pick was recovering from an abdominal ailment. He rushed his return and immediately shone with a dominant first half on February 8, 2025, against the Houston Rockets, but an adductor strain, connected to his prior injury, cut his night short.
He subsequently missed the next six weeks.
Later, during a game on April 2 against the Hawks, Mavericks teammate Daniel Gafford inadvertently elbowed Davis in his right eye. This injury ultimately necessitated offseason surgery to repair a detached retina, leading Davis to now wear protective eyewear on the court.
Five games into the current season, on October 29, 2025, facing the Indiana Pacers, Davis sustained a left calf strain that sidelined him for 14 games. This occurred after Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont reportedly hesitated to approve the Kentucky product’s return until the team possessed medical data confirming Davis was not at risk of aggravating the injury. During this period, Harrison was dismissed from his position.
Davis rejoined the lineup in late November, only to subsequently exit the Mavericks’ Christmas Day game against the Golden State Warriors due to right groin spasms.
Davis returned to play on New Year’s Day, but he then suffered his hand injury a week later while defending Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen on a drive along the baseline.
Injuries have consistently plagued Davis throughout his professional career, which began with New Orleans in 2012, continued in Los Angeles, and has virtually stagnated in Dallas.
Davis is slated to earn $58.5 million next season, according to ESPN, which also reported last week that he possesses a player option for $62.8 million in the 2027-28 season.
