Anthony Davis Faces Unexpected Setback: Hand Surgery Could Sideline Star for Months—What This Means for the Season

Anthony Davis is staring down the barrel of a lengthy sidelining following surgery to mend ligament damage in his left hand—news that landed like a punch in the gut for Mavericks fans and fantasy owners alike. ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the scoop, and honestly, it couldn’t come at a more fraught time for Davis, whose name’s been tossed around trade rumors for months now. Remember last season’s jaw-dropping three-team shuffle that swapped him from the Lakers to Dallas, bringing Luka Dončić to L.A.? That blockbuster felt seismic, yet Davis’s journey since has been anything but smooth. From recurring injuries to inconsistent court time, this latest hand setback threatens to tilt the scales on his value significantly. The saga of a once-dominant big man battling through adversity continues—and it’s one we’re all watching closely. LEARN MORE

Anthony Davis is likely to miss several months after undergoing surgery to repair ligament damage in his left hand, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Davis a while now, although his latest setback could affect his value. Last season, he was part of one of the league’s most shocking deals ever when the Los Angeles Lakers shipped him to Dallas as part of a three-team trade that delivered five-time All-NBA first-team guard Luka Dončić to L.A.

While Dončić has become the face of the franchise Davis won a championship with during the 2020 season, Davis has had a turbulent experience with the Mavericks.

The big man has appeared in just 29 regular-season games, as well as two play-in games, since infamous Dallas general manager Nico Harrison acquired him last February.

Following the trade, the former No. 1 overall pick was healing up from an abdominal injury. He hurried back and instantly starred with a dominant first half on Feb. 8 against the Houston Rockets, but an adductor strain related to the injury he was recovering from spoiled his night.

He missed the next six weeks of action.

Then, during an April 2 game versus the Atlanta Hawks, Mavericks teammate Daniel Gafford accidentally elbowed Davis in his right eye. The injury ultimately required offseason surgery to repair a detached retina, and now Davis wears protective eyewear on the floor.

Five games into this season, on Oct. 29 versus the Indiana Pacers, Davis suffered a left calf strain that kept him out 14 games after Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont reportedly delayed green-lighting the Kentucky product’s return until the team had medical data indicating Davis wasn’t at risk of aggravating the injury. Along the way, Harrison was fired.

From the experts at Yahoo Sports

SpursThunder 3 reasons why San Antonio is a matchup nightmare for the defending champs

Davis came back in late November, only to then exit the Mavs’ Christmas Day game against the Golden State Warriors with right groin spasms.

Davis was back in the lineup on New Year’s Day, however, but he picked up his hand injury a week later while defending Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen on a baseline drive Thursday.

Injuries have been a thorn in Davis’ side throughout his career, which started with New Orleans in 2012, continued in Los Angeles and has practically gone dormant in Dallas.

Davis is due $58.5 million next season, per ESPN, which reported that he has a player option for $62.8 million in 2027-28.

This story is being updated.