Anthony Davis’ Determination in Tough Times Proves Why Mavs Fans Should Support Him…
With just nine games left in the regular season, the Dallas Mavericks are in a tight race for home-court advantage in a potential first-round play-in matchup between the ninth and 10th seeds. Currently sitting at the 11th spot, Dallas holds the same record as the Phoenix Suns, but due to Phoenix owning the tiebreaker, the Mavs remain just a half-game behind the Sacramento Kings for the ninth seed.
Dallas’ season has been anything but smooth, with the Luka Dončić trade shaking up the team and a series of relentless injuries disrupting their rotation. However, despite these challenges, the Mavericks continue to push forward, showing resilience rather than conceding defeat.
Anthony Davis’ return exemplifies this mindset. Instead of opting for surgery on his adductor following Kyrie Irving’s ACL tear on March 3, Davis chose to keep playing. Seeing his new team battle through adversity with a depleted roster, he refused to let them down.
A True Competitor in Any Situation
Davis’ relentless drive to return from injury is a trait shared by many superstars—something Mavs fans also saw in Dončić during his time in Dallas. While pushing through injuries can be a risky gamble, the Mavericks and head coach Jason Kidd are carefully managing Davis’ minutes, trying to strike the right balance between getting him playoff-ready and avoiding further setbacks. His initial return saw him on a minute restriction against the Brooklyn Nets, and he sat out the second night of a back-to-back against the New York Knicks. However, as the postseason nears, those restrictions may ease if he continues to progress.
Davis is set to play against the Orlando Magic tonight, where he and Kai Jones will face off against Orlando’s towering frontcourt. The potential returns of Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II before the end of the season could also provide much-needed reinforcement, easing Davis’ burden in the paint and reducing the physical toll that has contributed to his injury history.
While Davis had every reason to sit out and undergo surgery, he instead chose to fight for the Mavericks, proving his commitment to the team and the city. Some fans may still be reeling from the Dončić trade, but Davis is doing everything he can to show he’s not just a throw-in piece. Even if the long-term outlook of the trade seems bleak, Davis didn’t choose this situation—but he’s embracing it and striving to lift Dallas up. That alone is something Mavericks fans should appreciate.
