Anthony Davis will not require surgery to repair ligament damage in his left hand and could return to action in approximately six weeks, avoiding what was initially expected to be a season-ending procedure. Earlier Tuesday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Davis was expected to undergo surgery and miss several months, but the 10-time All-Star received more encouraging news after meeting with a hand specialist.
The updated timeline keeps Davis’ season alive with the Mavericks sitting at 15-25 and 12th in the Western Conference. Dallas had renewed trade discussions with multiple interested teams after learning the initial severity of the injury Friday. The Toronto Raptors and Atlanta Hawks have previously expressed interest in Davis.
Davis injured his hand defending Utah’s Lauri Markkanen on a drive late in Thursday’s road loss to the Jazz. He posted 21 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and one block in 35 minutes before the injury occurred.
The 32-year-old has played only 29 regular-season games in a Mavericks uniform since arriving from the Los Angeles Lakers as the centerpiece of the Luka Doncic trade in February 2025. Various injuries have limited his availability throughout his Dallas tenure.
The Mavericks are 10-10 with Davis in the lineup and 5-15 without him this season. Dallas is prioritizing its long-term outlook while building around Rookie of the Year candidate Cooper Flagg. The 2026 NBA draft is the last one in which the Mavericks control their first-round pick until 2031.
Davis has averaged 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.7 blocks in 20 games this season. His 21.6 PER matches his production following last season’s trade from the Lakers. Davis is represented by Rich Paul and was interested in trade options before his injury. He seeks to land with a team willing to sign him to an extension this offseason.