Anthony Davis out with hand injury but avoids surgery

The Dallas Mavericks may be without Anthony Davis for the next six weeks due to ligament damage in his left hand.

Davis picked up the injury while defending Lauri Markkanen in last Thursday’s loss to the Utah Jazz. The extent of the injury was quickly apparent and he was initially expected to undergo surgery.

However on Tuesday evening a report on NBA.com confirmed that the 32-year-old “won’t need surgery to repair ligament damage.”

Since joining the Mavericks in February 2025 Davis has played just 29 regular season games, owing to a string of fitness issues. He was the most high-profile figure to join Dallas as part of the blockbuster trade that took Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.

What does this mean for Anthony Davis trade talks?

Less than a year on from his arrival, reports suggest that the Mavs are already willing to move on from the 32-year-old. With the team sitting 12th in the Western Conference, with a 15-25 record, the front office has the opportunity to build around young star Cooper Flagg.

ESPN reports that Dallas have been actively looking for suitors for Davis, with the Toronto Raptors and the Atlanta Hawks tapped to gauge their interest. However any hopes of shifting him before the February 5 trade deadline have taken a severe dent with the news that he needs surgery.

Nevertheless, some teams will certainly be tempted by a player of Davis’ talent. Looking ahead to the 2026/27 season, a cut-price deal for Davis could make sense. But this latest injury means that he may no longer appeal to a ‘win-now’ team, anyone looking to fortify the roster ahead of this season’s NBA Playoffs.

Davis has played 20 games across the 2025/26 season to date, averaging 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.7 blocks per game for an under-performing Dallas team.

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