For Los Angeles Lakers fans, Anthony Davis’ debut with the Dallas Mavericks was a storyline they knew all too well. The Mavericks’ newest star shined in the first half against the Houston Rockets, racking up 24 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, and three blocks before halftime. However, his night ended abruptly.
BREAKING: Anthony Davis is “doubtful” to return to his Mavericks debut after suffering a non-contact groin injury,
Davis concluded the game with 26 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists, and three blocks before exiting due to a groin injury. Notably, the injury was non-contact. The Mavericks, who had eagerly awaited Davis’ debut, may now have to deal with his absence for an unclear period.
For Dallas, the priority is ensuring Davis’ injury isn’t serious so he can return as soon as possible. However, dealing with this uncertainty has always been a challenge—one the Lakers no longer have to endure.
The Challenge of Building Around Davis
To be transparent, this article was initially meant to highlight Davis’ dominant debut with the Mavericks. But that plan quickly changed when the former NBA champion failed to finish his first game in Dallas. In that moment, a harsh reality became evident—constructing a franchise around Davis comes with significant risks.
There’s no denying that the nine-time All-Star is an extraordinary talent and will be remembered as one of the best players of his generation. He also managed to stay relatively healthy during the 2023-24 NBA season, which was a rarity. Unfortunately, that durability was the exception rather than the rule.
The Lakers were fortunate to benefit from a fully healthy Davis during their 2020 championship run. As a five-time All-NBA selection, he was a dominant force—something Lakers fans will always appreciate.
That said, trading Davis for Luka Doncic was an obvious move that won’t be questioned anytime soon. Ironically, Doncic is also recovering from an injury, but unlike Davis, he has played at least 61 regular-season games in every other season of his career.
Perhaps there’s some confirmation bias at play, but regardless, the overall sentiment remains unchanged.
