Anthony Davis’ decline reaches breaking point as his future in Dallas grows uncertain

Once hailed as a generational talent, Anthony Davis has been sidelined by injuries and circumstances, leaving the former superstar barely recognizable in his brief stint with the Mavericks.

Davis, the No. 1 pick in the 2012 draft, was expected to usher in a new era in the NBA. That was the plan. Instead, his career has been a relentless series of setbacks that have overshadowed flashes of brilliance so clear and undeniable they almost make his struggles more tragic by comparison. By any measure, he has been more than a successful player. He is, after all, an NBA champion, winning a ring alongside LeBron James in Los Angeles. But that achievement cannot erase the years of misfortune and never quite being in the right situation that have left his reputation teetering on the edge.

A promising start derailed by circumstance

Davis built an impressive résumé early on, though far short of what could have been. He finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting behind Damian Lillard, quickly becoming the cornerstone of the New Orleans Pelicans, a franchise still finding its footing after moving from Charlotte. He averaged over 20 points and 10 rebounds for six consecutive seasons and, in 2017-18, finished third in MVP and Defensive Player of the Year voting.

That season, Davis helped his team win its first playoff series with Rajon Rondo running the floor, Jrue Holiday providing steady support, and Davis himself posting 28.1 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game, leading the league in blocks for the third time. For a brief moment, he seemed poised to become a truly generational player. Reality, however, had other plans.

Lakers offer Davis a glimpse of redemption

After a year plagued by injuries, Davis arrived in Los Angeles ready to define a new chapter. He averaged 26 points and nine rebounds in his first season with the Lakers, finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting behind Giannis Antetokounmpo and earning spots on both the All-NBA and All-Defensive teams.

In the playoffs, he averaged 27.7 points in the Orlando bubble and 25 points with 10.7 rebounds in the Finals, capturing his long-sought championship. Yet, even that triumph marked the peak of his career.

He showed signs of revival in 2023-24, posting 24.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists with 2.3 blocks per game, but was soon dragged back into an endless cycle of injuries that reinforced his reputation as fragile. Compounding the issue, Davis has consistently avoided playing center, likely to protect his body from the physical toll under the basket and in rebounding battles.

Davis’ rocky start in Dallas

Davis became collateral damage in the blockbuster trade that brought Luka Doncic to the Lakers. Last season, he played just nine games with the Mavericks. He promised fans the world in the offseason, even joking about wearing protective glasses for the rest of his career. Yet after five games this season, during which he averaged over 20 points and 10 rebounds, injuries struck again, coinciding with the Mavericks’ collapse: a 4-12 record, near the bottom of the Western Conference, Nico Harrison dismissed for unclear reasons, and Davis back in the injury room as the team searches for a trade partner.

Multiple sources have reported the Mavs are already looking to offload Davis, which Mark Cuban, the franchise’s minority owner, has denied.

At nearly 33, the former star’s future hangs by a thread. The dream of returning to elite form seems increasingly unlikely. Once destined to lead a new era in the NBA, Anthony Davis now faces a sobering reality: his fall from grace may have only just begun.

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