Apr 5, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) looks on during the National Anthem before the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

14-Year NBA Veteran Gets Honest on Anthony Davis

Originally posted on New Orleans Pelicans on SI
By Austin Veazey | Last updated Aug 3, 2025 8:59 PM ET

Anthony Davis is entering a pivotal season with the Dallas Mavericks, and former New Orleans Pelicans center Kendrick Perkins thinks people are forgetting about how good he is.

Davis will be the go-to option for the Mavericks for the first half of the season as Kyrie Irving recovers from ACL surgery. And while Cooper Flagg can be great, it's rare for rookies to drive winning. That puts all the pressure on Davis to keep the team afloat until Irving returns.

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In a recent video posted by ESPN debating the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs, Kendrick Perkins spoke highly of the Mavs' frontcourt.

“They arguably have the best front line in basketball in Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively, and Anthony Davis, and you throw in a sprinkle of PJ Washington and Cooper Flagg," Perkins started. "[Naji] Marshall was pretty damn good for them last year, he’s back, and in the pickup of D’Angelo Russell to hold it down until Kyrie Irving returns."

The point that Perkins really wanted to nail home is that Anthony Davis is still a really good basketball player.

“With the leadership and head coaching of Jason Kidd. They’re going to be a force defensively. And I think we forget, at times, how special and how dominant Anthony Davis could look when he’s healthy and available."

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Can Anthony Davis Carry the Mavs?

The issue with putting all of one's eggs in the Anthony Davis basket is his health. In his last seven seasons, he's met the 65-game requirement for postseason awards just once. He had an adductor strain in his first game as a Maverick, and he underwent a procedure to repair a detached retina earlier this offseason.

Those health issues are why Dallas Mavericks fans were so upset when general manager Nico Harrison traded Doncic away to the Los Angeles Lakers. It's one thing to trade away the beloved franchise icon, but then to get an older, worse, and often-injured player in return was damaging, and it would've set the team back for a decade had they not landed Cooper Flagg.

When he's on the floor, he's still very productive. He had 40 points in the Play-In Tournament against the Memphis Grizzlies, but it's a weird roster in Dallas. They don't have a lot of playmaking and shot-creation, and likely don't have enough three-point shooting either.

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This article first appeared on New Orleans Pelicans on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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