Today : Mar 18, 2025
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18 March 2025

Dallas Mavericks Assign Anthony Davis To G League For Rehabilitation

Star forward looks to recover from injury and aid playoff push for Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks have assigned star forward Anthony Davis to the Texas Legends of the G League as part of his rehabilitation process from a left adductor strain. This strategic move, made on March 17, 2025, aims to get Davis some much-needed practice time before his potential return, which remains uncertain.

Davis's assignment to the Legends allows him to engage in 5-on-5 scrimmages, accommodating the Mavericks' challenging schedule, which sees them on the road for five of their next six games until March 29. The 32-year-old forward, who was the highlight of the blockbuster trade sending five-time all-NBA guard Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, has played only one game with Dallas since the trade, which took place on February 1, 2025.

His brief debut for Dallas against the Houston Rockets on February 8 was electrifying, as he scored 26 points, grabbed 16 rebounds, dished out seven assists, and recorded three blocks—all this within just 31 minutes of play. Unfortunately, his performance was cut short when he suffered the injury late in the third quarter and hasn't been active since. According to reports by AP, Davis hasn’t played since his injury caused him to leave the game late against the Rockets.

Despite his hiatus, Davis's statistics for the season before his injury were impressive. He averaged 25.7 points, 12.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.2 blocks over 43 games played. His presence was expected to be pivotal for the Mavericks, who currently find themselves struggling with injuries and performance, hovering at 33-36 and tied for the final playoff play-in spot.

Alongside Davis, Jaden Hardy, the young guard who has also faced injuries, is making similar efforts to return. Hardy, who has missed the past seven games due to a sprained right ankle, has been recorded as averaging 8.0 points and 15.2 minutes over his 46 appearances for the Mavericks this season. His assignment to the Legends aligns with the team's strategy of maximizing player recovery options.

Since the trade on February 1, the situation for the Mavericks has shifted dramatically. They were sitting comfortably at 26-23 on the day of the trade but have found themselves struggling to maintain form with the series of injuries impacting the roster. The condition of the team has led to them utilizing the league minimum of eight players during some recent games, putting tremendous strain on those available.

With Davis now with the Texas Legends, Mavericks head coach will hope for swift progress. Engaging with the Legends presents Davis with the chance to get back to competitive gameplay, which is desperately needed as the Mavericks navigate the demanding end of the season.

The team is aware of the weight of expectations surrounding Davis's recovery; following such a significant trade, fans are eager for the superstar to return and assist the club's playoff aspirations. The Mavericks organization is focusing on building their roster strength as they finish up the final stretch of the regular season.

Should Davis be able to rejoin the Mavericks lineup effectively, his contributions could prove to be the difference-maker needed to boost the team out of the current rut and back among the playoff contenders. While there are no certain answers yet on when he will return, each practice and each scrimmage with the Legends brings him closer to rejoining the Mavericks.

His participation could very well be influential for the team's performance as they aim to solidify their playoff position and engage fans even more as they rally behind the returning All-Star.

So, as the Mavericks continue on this unforeseen challenging path, eyes will remain fixed on Anthony Davis. His imminent return from this injury could potentially change the course of the Mavericks' season, providing them with the spark needed to reignite their playoff dreams.