Anthony Davis Thrives in Mavericks Debut, Helps Guide Victory Over Rockets: 'You Know What You Get'

Anthony Davis shines in Mavericks debut with 26 points and 16 rebounds. Read about his first game impact and team adjustments.

Photo: Nick White/DallasHoopsJournal.com

DALLAS — Since the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers in a return headlined by Anthony Davis, the 10-time All-Star’s debut with the team was highly anticipated. He did not disappoint, to say the least, finishing with 26 points, 16 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 blocks in 31 minutes. His impact set the tone for a 116-105 victory over the Houston Rockets.

“He was great,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said of Davis. “The way he came out, I thought the energy and effort was at a high. He was AD. It’s very simple. It’s not complex. It’s like groceries. You know what you get.”

Davis described the emotional experience of putting on a Mavericks uniform for the first time, naturally thinking about the type of reception he’d receive from fans supporting him for the first time. He felt welcomed by Dallas.

“Obviously it was an emotional day – my first game here in Dallas – just from the standpoint of being on a new team,” Davis said. “First time putting the (Mavs’) uniform on, so (there were) a lot of emotions before game time. All day, I was trying to figure out what reaction I was going to have, and obviously, it was welcoming, and I think that just kind of helped with my energy with the crowd reacting the way they did. Obviously, a big-time win, and we’ll just try to keep it going.”