Anthony Davis is eager to return to action and, if given the choice, he wants his first game back to be against the Los Angeles Lakers, the team that traded him to the Dallas Mavericks. Speaking with reporters, Davis said, “You know what game I want to play. 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.”
Davis Makes His Preference Clear
After Tuesday’s practice, Davis was asked by The Athletic’s Christian Clark whether he preferred to return Friday or Saturday. With the Mavericks scheduled to play both Los Angeles teams on back-to-back nights, he made no attempt to hide where his heart was leaning.
“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.”
It was the closest he has come to publicly acknowledging what everyone already knew: the chance to suit up against the Lakers — the franchise that traded him to Dallas this summer — is one he would love to seize.
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Kidd: “He Did a Really Good Job” in Return to Practice
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Davis officially returned to practice Tuesday, and Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd sounded encouraged about what he saw from the veteran forward.
Mike Curtis reported that Kidd viewed the session as a positive step, saying Davis “did a really good job” in his first full run with the group. Still, Kidd made it clear that the final call remains tied to how Davis responds physically.
“Hopefully we can see how he feels tomorrow and we’ll make that decision if it’s LA (Lakers) or the Clippers,” Kidd said.
Marc Stein added more clarity later in the day, noting that Davis is “scheduled to practice Wednesday in a bid to be cleared for his first game action since Oct. 29.”
Dallas Needs Davis — Badly
Whether his return comes Friday or Saturday, the Mavericks need him on the court. Dallas has struggled without his rim protection, scoring punch, and ability to anchor possessions. His presence would also relieve pressure on No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, who has been tasked with too much creation too early.
And once Kyrie Irving returns, Dallas finally expects to see the roster it built — one capable of competing instead of merely surviving.
A Return With Emotional Stakes
The Mavericks face the Lakers on Friday at 10 p.m. ET. The decision will hinge on medical clearance, but Davis has already said the quiet part out loud: if it were up to him, he’d be on the floor against the team that moved on from him.
Whether he gets that chance remains the story to watch.