He might not have been the headliner, but Anthony Davis is the only 2025 All-Star involved in the blockbuster trade between the Mavericks and Lakers.
Davis, 31, is undoubtedly one of the game’s all-time greats, evidenced by his place on the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team. More than just a footnote in a trade that also involves Luka Doncic, Davis is a 10-time All-Star who will look to propel Dallas’ new-look push to repeat as Western Conference champions.
While the trade has been signed off on, Davis’ Dallas debut will be delayed by an injury suffered during his final days as a Laker. Davis has been largely durable in 2024-25 but it is unclear when fans will get their first look at the big man in a Mavericks uniform.
Here’s what to know about when Davis might make his Dallas debut.
MORE LUKA DONCIC TRADE NEWS:
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- Why did the Mavericks trade Luke Doncic?
- How Luka Doncic fits with the Lakers
- When will Luka Doncic make Lakers debut?
- Latest updates on Luka Doncic's injury
When will Anthony Davis play for the Mavericks?
It is unclear when Davis will make his Mavericks debut. The team “remains hopeful” Davis can make his debut against the Celtics on Thursday, Feb. 6, per NBA insider Marc Stein.
If not Thursday, Davis’ next opportunity to debut will come on Saturday, Feb. 8 against the Rockets.
Dallas had a game hours after the trade became official, but Davis was not available for the game because of the circumstances of the deal. At the time of the trade, Davis was in Los Angeles rehabbing an abdominal injury he suffered on Jan. 28.
He also won’t play in the Mavericks’ road matchup against the 76ers on Tuesday, Feb. 4, likely to the disappointment of this fan that traveled a far distance to the game:
Well that’s awkward. pic.twitter.com/duxkF0dcY5
— Austin Krell (@NBAKrell) February 4, 2025
Nico Harrison, Mavericks president and general manager, told Mike Curtis of the Dallas Morning News that he’s “Not sure” when to expect to see Davis suit up, adding that “we don’t have a perfect answer for that.”
Los Angeles’ medical staff said Davis would be re-evaluated one week from Jan. 29, but Dallas’ medical staff might have a different timeline for its All-Star big man. As part of the trade process, Davis will undergo a series of physical tests, which could determine when he debuts.
The Mavericks begin a four-game homestand nine days after Davis first suffered the injury. Before the team breaks for All-Star weekend, it will host the Rockets, Kings, Warriors, and Heat at the American Airlines Center.
Davis participated in pre-game warm-ups on Thursday ahead of a game against the Celtics. He was ultimately ruled out, but there is a good chance he debuts on Saturday against the Rockets.
Mavs Injury Update:
Anthony Davis (abdominal strain), Caleb Martin (right hip strain), P.J. Washington Jr. (personal reasons), Dereck Lively II (right ankle stress fracture) and Dwight Powell (right hip strain) will be OUT tonight against the Celtics.
— Mavs PR (@MavsPR) February 6, 2025
Anthony Davis Mavericks jersey number
Davis will wear No. 3 with the Mavericks, continuing his history with the single-digit numeral.
After wearing No. 23 in high school, at Kentucky and with New Orleans, Davis switched to No. 3 when he joined Los Angeles in 2019. He will keep that going in a Mavericks uniform.
Mavericks schedule 2024-25
Here are Dallas’ final games before the All-Star break. The Mavericks begin a four-game homestand on Saturday, Feb. 8.
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV channel |
| Feb. 4 | at 76ers | 7 p.m. | — |
| Feb. 6 | at Celtics | 7:30 p.m. | TNT, truTV, Max |
| Feb. 8 | vs. Rockets | 3 p.m. | — |
| Feb. 10 | vs. Kings | 8:30 p.m. | — |
| Feb. 12 | vs. Warriors | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Feb. 13 | vs. Heat | 8:30 p.m. | — |
What is Anthony Davis’ injury?
Davis’ injury is an abdominal muscle strain.
He suffered the injury during the first quarter of the Lakers’ visit to the Sixers on Jan. 28. He exited the game for good after 10 minutes of action. Like with most soft tissue injuries, time missed with abdominal strains is dependent on the severity of the strain.
This season, Davis appeared in 42 of the Lakers’ first 47 games, though he did exit two games early due to injury.