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HomeDallas MavericksSources: Dallas Mavericks Star Anthony Davis Avoids Hand Surgery After Receiving Second Opinion
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Sources: Dallas Mavericks Star Anthony Davis Avoids Hand Surgery After Receiving Second Opinion

Grant AfsethGrant Afseth
Anthony Davis, Dallas Mavericks, NBA
Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images

At a moment when the Dallas Mavericks are balancing injuries, roster uncertainty, and an increasingly compressed margin for error, Anthony Davis has made a pivotal decision regarding his health. Sources tell DallasHoopsJournal.com that Davis has chosen to move forward with a non-surgical approach to address the ligament injury in his left hand.

Davis, who has averaged 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 20 games this season, has been sidelined since suffering the injury earlier this month. Davis’ decision provides clarity on the direction of treatment at a time when Dallas continues to navigate a challenging stretch of the season.

Anthony Davis Opts for a Non-Surgical Approach

Davis received a second opinion Tuesday from Dr. Steven Shin in Los Angeles, one of the most respected hand specialists in professional sports. Shin has previously performed surgeries on players including Devin Booker, Scottie Barnes, and Stephen Curry.

Following those consultations, sources familiar with the situation indicated to DallasHoopsJournal.com that Davis elected to proceed without surgery. There have been no indications that operative intervention is part of the current plan.

Based on the medical evaluation, the recovery process is estimated at approximately six weeks, sources told DallasHoopsJournal.com. Given the Jan. 8 injury date, Davis is expected to miss the remainder of the Mavericks’ schedule leading into the All-Star break. Dallas resumes play Feb. 20 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, though no firm target date has been established for Davis’ return to game action.

Injury Details and On-the-Ground Context

The injury occurred in the fourth quarter of the Jan. 8 game, a 116–114 loss to the Utah Jazz, while Davis was defending a drive by Lauri Markkanen. His left hand was caught in an awkward position on the play, resulting in ligament damage. Davis was visibly in pain as he exited the game on the broadcast, and that discomfort remained evident behind the scenes as he walked back toward the locker room area after visiting the X-ray room beneath the arena.

Despite the injury, Davis continued to travel with the Mavericks and was present on the road in Chicago, where Dallas suffered a 125–107 loss to the Chicago Bulls. He was observed at shootaround wearing a sling, with his left hand wrapped to keep it stabilized. From firsthand observation, Davis remained in positive spirits throughout the day, including while watching his Green Bay Packers face the Chicago Bears in the NFL playoffs.

Davis remained in positive spirits at Sunday’s shootaround before the 113-105 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. However, this time, he was not wearing a sling and did not have his hand wrapped. Instead, he remained intentional about protecting his left hand by holding it near his chest.

Several DallasHoopsJournal.com sources view Davis’ non-surgical decision as consistent with his history of attempting to play through injuries rather than opting for operative intervention, including prior left-hand issues and last season’s adductor/groin strain that sidelined him for an extended period before he returned in time for the play-in tournament. For now, Davis’ return will be dictated by his response to treatment and continued evaluation, with greater clarity expected during the All-Star break.

Rich Paul on the Dallas Mavericks’ Path Forward

Beyond the immediate recovery, questions remain about Davis’ long-term future in Dallas, including whether he will ultimately be traded to a team interested in offering him a contract extension he would be eligible to sign in August. Against that backdrop, Davis’ agent, Rich Paul, recently shared his broader view of the path forward during an appearance on the Game Theory Podcast, framing the situation as one that requires clarity from an organizational standpoint.

“But I do think when you have speculation out there, you have to make your mind up at some point, because sometimes when you play in traffic, you get hit by a car,” Paul said. “When there’s speculation, you have to decide which direction you want to go… You try to go a little longer, a little longer, a little longer to see how much value you can extract. But when you do that, you run a risk.”

Paul acknowledged that Davis’ injury arrived at a delicate moment for the franchise, but emphasized that it does not materially change how teams would evaluate him — nor does it preclude a future in Dallas.

“In this case, AD gets injured. Luckily, it’s not something he’ll never come back from,” Paul said. “And it probably wouldn’t prevent a team from still wanting to trade for him if that were the direction.”

Paul also outlined a scenario in which the Mavericks retain Davis and pivot toward a longer-term view, particularly given the presence of young talent and the flexibility that could come with upcoming roster decisions.

“There is a world where you come out of this draft with a great pick, and you’re looking at the following year saying, ‘Wait a minute—we’ve got two young guys on rookie contracts who are really good,’” Paul said. “And on each end of that, you have Kyrie and AD—champions, All-Stars when healthy. I don’t care what anybody says, two of the top 10 or 15 players in the league when healthy. Then you figure out some surface-level stuff with the bench, and it’s not totally negative.”

For now, Davis’ focus remains on his recovery, while the Mavericks continue to operate without definitive answers on their long-term direction. Dallas returns to action Wednesday when it hosts Denver.

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Tags :Anthony DavisDallas MavericksJason KiddMavericks injury reportNBANBA InjuriesNBA NewsRich Paul
Grant Afseth

Grant Afseth

Senior Writer
Grant Afseth is a Senior Writer for DallasHoopsJournal.com, where he leads in-depth coverage of the Mavericks, Wings, and more. Between a focus on the latest news, closer looks at games, front office strategy, and more, Afseth provides objective coverage. Afseth contributes broader NBA coverage across platforms and has been cited in national outlets for his reporting and analysis. With nearly a decade of journalism experience, Afseth has covered the NBA and WNBA for multiple major outlets, including Athlon Sports, BallIsLife, Sportskeeda, and RG.org. He previously reported on the Indiana Pacers for CNHI’s Kokomo Tribune and the Mavericks for FanNation.
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