Anthony Davis’ Injury: A Significant Blow to the Mavericks

CHICAGO — Max Christie could only watch as Anthony Davis, three seats to his left, doubled over in pain while the Mavericks’ training staff examined his left hand during Thursday’s loss to Utah.

The next morning, an MRI revealed ligament damage in Davis’ hand, the latest injury that will sideline him indefinitely. The Mavericks big man will seek multiple opinions before determining the best course of action to treat the hand sprain.

Davis’ injury is the latest — and potentially most damaging — blow in a Mavericks season defined by attrition. Already without Kyrie Irving and now facing the loss of two of their three primary big men, Dallas’ depth will be tested and its familiar “next man up” mentality will attempt to sooth the harsh reality that comes with another unfortunate diagnosis for Davis.

Davis’ Injury and Its Impact on the Team

Davis appeared to be in good spirits Saturday morning at the United Center, where the Mavericks will conclude their three-game road trip against the Bulls in his hometown of Chicago. He wore a black sling to support his heavily wrapped left hand.

The #Mavs just finished shootaround here in Chicago, hometown of Anthony Davis & Max Christie.

Davis was here & in good spirits despite the recent news of ligament damage in his left hand. His left arm is in a sling & his hand is heavily wrapped.

No sign of PJ Washington &… pic.twitter.com/dTm1FMmWjp

— Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) January 10, 2026

Reactions from the Team

Christie and Mavericks big man Daniel Gafford reacted to yet another serious injury that will deplete the team’s depth.

“Unfortunate, obviously,” Christie said. “We want to be able to have him on the floor as much as possible just because of how dominant and how good he is for us, but it’s a ‘next man up’ mentality. That’s just kind of the way the NBA works with injuries, and we just gotta be able to move past it and continue to try to win games.”

Winning without Davis will be a tall task, as the Mavericks are 4–14 this season when he doesn’t play. They are already without their best ballhandler and shot creator, Irving, who was present for Saturday’s shootaround. Now, they’ll also be without their best rebounder and rim protector, who poses a significant threat on the offensive end.

The Road Ahead

Gafford, who was recently reinserted into the starting lineup alongside Davis, will be called upon to shoulder more of the load on both ends of the floor, particularly defensively. With Davis and Dereck Lively II sidelined for the foreseeable future, Gafford is the last of the Mavericks’ trio of big men who is healthy.

“It’s a tough blow for us,” Gafford said. “It’s just something that happened out of nowhere. Like we always say, ‘next man up’ mentality. We just gotta come in and pick up where he left off.”

It will be difficult to replicate the type of production Davis provides when healthy. He is a walking double-double, averaging 20.4 points and 11.1 rebounds in 20 games prior to his injury. However, Mavericks coach Jason Kidd doesn’t view the production as something that needs to be replaced.

“We’re not looking to replace AD [Anthony Davis]. It’s got to be a group effort – the next man up and then the next man up. We’ll miss AD while he is out, but we’ve had injuries this season, so this isn’t something new.”

Maintaining the “Next Man Up” Mentality

The Mavericks have leaned on their “next man up” mantra several times dating back to last season. Dallas called up two-way center Moussa Cisse from the G League on Saturday, along with Miles Kelly for additional bodies with Davis, PJ Washington and Brandon Williams all sidelined because of injuries.

Gafford was asked about the difficulty of maintaining the “next man up” mindset amid their injury luck.

“With us being there for each other, we always try to talk ourselves out of the dark days and try to make every day sunny,” Gafford said. “It’s a long season. Injuries are going to happen. There’s gonna be a lot of stuff we can’t control. We just have to keep playing.”

Davis’ Presence and Leadership

Davis is expected to miss a significant number of games, possibly the rest of the season if he elects to have surgery. Despite that reality, Davis wore a smile during Saturday’s shootaround.

“He does a good job of never getting too high and never getting too low,” Christie said. “He’s always staying even keeled. His presence around us, even when he’s not on the floor, is great. I know my teammates appreciate him being around, providing leadership, and continuing to be that guy for us.”

X: @MikeACurtis2

Find more Mavericks coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.

Conclusion

The Mavericks will face a tough road ahead without Anthony Davis, but they are determined to maintain their “next man up” mentality and continue to fight for wins. With Davis’ leadership and presence still felt around the team, they will look to Gafford and other players to step up and fill the void left by Davis’ injury.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long will Anthony Davis be out with his injury?

A: Davis is expected to miss a significant number of games, possibly the rest of the season if he elects to have surgery.

Q: Who will replace Davis in the starting lineup?

A: Gafford, who was recently reinserted into the starting lineup alongside Davis, will be called upon to shoulder more of the load on both ends of the floor, particularly defensively.

Q: How will the Mavericks maintain their “next man up” mentality amid their injury luck?

A: The Mavericks will look to their team chemistry and leadership to maintain their “next man up” mentality, with players like Gafford and Christie stepping up to fill the void left by Davis’ injury.