Anthony Davis is back on the court following offseason surgery

Last season was both tumultuous and disappointing for the Dallas Mavericks. Describing last year’s campaign as “injury plagued” is a massive understatement, as Dallas came dangerously close to forfeiting games due to a lack of available players on more than one occasion. With summer rolling in, Dallas finally had an opportunity to go more than a few days without hearing another injury report. Then the calendar turned to July and ESPN’s Shams Charania kept the unfortunate trend alive by breaking the news that Anthony Davis had undergone surgery.

Davis was the recipient of multiple shots to the face over the course of last season, which though seemingly innocuous enough at the time, ultimately resulted in a detached retina. As a testament to his toughness, Davis played through the injury, but it was only a matter of time before it needed to be properly addressed. Unsurprisingly, this was groan-worthy to a fanbase already exhausted by a litany of injury news for months on end.

Davis is no stranger to injuries, so it was natural to fear the worst regarding his availability to kick off the 2025-26 season. Now though, a report from Marc Stein may give Dallas hope that their injury luck is finally changing. Stein reported that Davis is not only back on the court, but participating in 5-on-5 play.

With Kyrie Irving on the shelf until at least January, Davis is the Mavs’ best player and the last thing they need is to tip-off the season with him spectating. Having the surgery in early July appears to have afforded the opportunity to get some offseason rest while still being able to spool up his on-court activity leading into training camp. D’Angelo Russell and Klay Thompson are already building their chemistry together and having Davis join his teammates is a positive sign. Leaving nearly 25 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists on the bench is simply not an option for the Mavericks who will need all the firepower they can get until Irving returns.  

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks