Anthony Davis Plans To Return To The Court This Season Against The Mavericks' Wishes

It's been a season from hell for the Dallas Mavericks, but there may still be the hope of making a miracle run before it's all said and done. According to ESPN's Tim MacMahon, the All-NBA big man is dead set on returning to action this season despite the team preferring him to shut it down.

"[Anthony Davis] is steadfast in his determination to want to return this season," said MacMahon on NBA Today. "Maybe as soon as next week despite the fact there are people within the Mavericks organization that have tried to talk him out of it."

Davis, 32, suffered a left adductor strain on February 8 against the Houston Rockets. He was just minutes into his Mavericks debut, having posted 26 points, 16 rebounds, and seven assists on 55.6% shooting. He led the Mavericks to a resounding win but he didn't last more than 31 minutes before leaving the game.

In the latest update, Davis was assigned to the Texas Legends to help him prepare for a return but no concrete date has been announced for his return.

The All-Star big man has a long string of injuries that have cost him countless games already. Over his stints with the Pelicans and Lakers, Davis has missed huge chunks of time and that trend is holding true in Dallas so far.

As for what's next, we know the team would prefer if he didn't return until next season. At 32 years old, the clock is ticking for Anthony Davis and he only has so many years left before his inevitable decline.

With Kyrie Irving, Daniel Gafford, and Dereck Lively II all currently down and out for the count, this campaign might as well be a lost cause for the Mavericks and there have been calls to tank the season in order to maximize their chances for redemption in 2026.

Even with how bad things have been, however, the Mavericks still have a path to the championship. At 10th in the West, they would qualify for the play-in if it started today but their lead is narrow at just 1.5 games up and the Suns are dangerously close to closing the gap.

While the Mavericks will not see Kyrie Iring again for the next few weeks, Anthony Davis and the others could return to the lineup to finish the season. At 33-36, the Mavericks are on par with teams like the Suns and Kings but their ceiling is much higher at full strength.

With averages of 25.7 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game on 55.6% shooting this season, Anthony Davis is playing elite-level basketball and he has the power to change everything for the Mavericks.

At this point, only Davis can bring joy back to the city and he's determined to prove his worth after being part of one of the most controversial trades in NBA history. Before anything, Davis must be available for the Mavericks and that's exactly why he plans to re-take the court this season instead of shutting himself down until October.