Anthony Davis Stuns NBA Fans with Dominant Mavs Debut Before Exiting with Injury

Posted by author February 8, 2025 NBA

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Anthony Davis announced his presence in Dallas with an utterly dominant first half en route to leading the Mavericks to a 116-105 home win over the Houston Rockets on Saturday.

Mavs PR @MavsPR

Anthony Davis finished the first half with 24 points (9-13 FG, 2-2 3FG, 4-6 FT), 13 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 blocks.
He is the first player in the play-by-play era (since 1996-97) to record at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 blocks in a half. pic.twitter.com/Usoe7nrYZn

Unfortunately, Davis left the game late in the third quarter and did not return after suffering a non-contact ailment the Mavs initially termed a “lower body injury.”

Entering Saturday, the 31-year-old hadn’t played since Jan. 28, when the former Los Angeles Laker suffered an abdominal strain.

Days later, the Mavericks authored one of the most stunning trades in recent memory when they dealt five-time All-NBA player and 25-year-old guard Luka Dončić to the Lakers in a three-team deal that brought Davis back to Dallas.

That trade obviously hasn’t been popular with Mavericks fans, who protested outside American Airlines Center before tipoff.

Amid that chaos, AD was exceptional, finishing with 26 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks. He meshed quite well with his new teammates, particularly Kyrie Irving, who found him for a ferocious second-quarter slam.

Unfortunately, the AD show ended abruptly in the third quarter, and now fans play the waiting game to see the extent of his injury and the timeline for his return.

In the meantime, though, fans and analysts alike praised Davis for an incredible start to his Mavs tenure.

The Pettiest Laker Fan 🤫 @ThePettiestLA

Anybody who is acting like the Mavs got Celtics Shaq in the trade can shut up now. Anthony Davis is also generational. pic.twitter.com/8PmF2G0DOE

LegendOfWinning @LegendOfWinning

Anthony Davis actually playing the 4
Anthony Davis around other athletes
Anthony Davis being prioritized
Anthony Davis is a top 5 player
Stop disrespecting Anthony Davis

Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps

It’s very obvious Anthony Davis is out to prove a point today after the way the last week has gone. That was an incredibly impressive opening five minutes from him in his Mavs debut.

Edwin Garcia @ECreates88

Have you ever broken up with someone and even though it’s the right thing to do, it broke your heart? That’s all of Los Angeles right now watching Anthony Davis getting buckets.

Fred Katz @FredKatz

It seems as if, lost in all the trade talk, the world forgot that Anthony Davis is still awesome.

Aaron Larsuel @AaronLarsuel

Anthony Davis is The Destroyer of Worlds.

Andrew Claudio @AndrewJClaudio_

What’s wild is Anthony Davis is clearly still very good and the trade is still very bad

Witness King James @WITNESSKJ

It’s funny how everyone is now realizing that Anthony Davis is an NBA All-World player.
Now that he’s not in LA, maybe he’ll get his universal respect.
Mavs fans have every right to feel how they feel, but AD is a monster.

Bryson Wright @BrysonWright3

Anthony Davis heard everything about the most lopsided deal in NBA history and came out ready to remind everyone who he is

Daman Rangoola @damanr

Put some respect on that man Anthony Davis’ name

Joey Rischard @joey_rischard

Anthony Davis you are single-handedly trying to heal the entire city of Dallas I love you already

Eddie A Johnson @Jumpshot8

Anthony Davis walked into the @dallasmavs arena and is reminding all those crying fans who he is.

Kevin O’Connor @KevinOConnorNBA

Anthony Davis at his best to begin his Dallas Mavericks career. Pure dominance in every way.

Esfandiar Baraheni @JustEsBaraheni

I promise you can think the Mavs trading Luka is dumb while being overjoyed for Anthony Davis and his incredible start to this game. I promise! Humans are complex!

As for what’s next in Dallas, the Mavericks have four more games on their current homestand, with the next one coming Monday against the Sacramento Kings.

They now stand 28-25, which is good enough for eighth in the Western Conference.