DALLAS — If it’s up to Anthony Davis, he’ll make his return from injury Friday against his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Dallas Mavericks big man went through a full practice Wednesday for the first time since he suffered a left calf strain on Oct. 29 and is on track to play either Friday against the Lakers or Saturday against the LA Clippers. Davis will only play in one leg of the Mavericks’ upcoming back-to-back.
“You know what game I want to play,” Davis said. “But we’ll see. We’ll have a conversation. See what makes the most sense with the medical staff and coaching staff. No decision has been made. Obviously, (I) would like to. But at the end of the day, it’s getting back on the floor, whether it’s Friday or Saturday. Whatever we discuss.”
Davis spent 4½ seasons with the Lakers before the Mavericks acquired him in a February trade for Luka Dončić. So far, Davis has only been able to suit up in 14 games in a Mavericks uniform. He spent six weeks recovering from an adductor strain last season, and he has missed the Mavericks’ past 14 games while he works his way back from a left calf strain.
Dallas (5-14) has gone 3-11 without Davis this season and will enter Friday’s game as the Western Conference’s 14th-place team. The Lakers (13-4) are tied for second in the West. Dončić is averaging 35.2 points per game, the most in the NBA.
On Nov. 11, the Mavericks fired general manager Nico Harrison, who was the driving force behind the decision to trade Dončic for Davis. Harrison had a strong relationship with Davis that dated back more than a decade. Davis said it was “surprising” to see Harrison get let go.
“Nico is my guy,” Davis said. “He played a huge part in getting me here and wanting me to fulfill his vision that he saw. It was definitely tough. Me and him had a conversation. Me and (Mavericks governor) Patrick (Dumont) had a conversation. You know, it’s the business of basketball. Once I had those conversations, I was able to move forward.”
Once Harrison was fired, trade rumors involving Davis picked up. The 32-year-old 10-time All-Star, who is owed $58.5 million next season and holds a $62.8 player option in 2027-28, said that chatter doesn’t affect him.
“This is basketball,” Davis said. “This is what comes with it. I think everybody in their career has been involved in trade talks. Been traded. Or some type of move. That doesn’t affect me. I’ve been in trade talks for a while. My job is to do what I do on the floor. Play basketball. Try to lead this team.
“I do have an open line of communication with the front office. I’m just ready to get back on the floor.”
Davis said he is hopeful he can help the Mavericks start winning more close games. Dallas has a 4-11 record this season in “clutch” games (any game within five points in the final five minutes).
“That’s the tough thing about us, man,” Davis said. “We are right there in every game. For me, it’s like this is where the moment is to kind of close these games and help us on both ends of the floor. It’s very tough. It gets even more frustrating when I’m not able to get out there on the floor.
“Hopefully, this weekend, I can get out there and start helping us win some of these clutch games.”