The Dallas Mavericks felt the weight of Anthony Davis’ absence last season, and the numbers showed it. After arriving in February’s blockbuster trade, Davis managed only nine regular-season appearances, sidelined by an adductor injury before undergoing surgery in July 2025 to repair a detached retina. Without his presence anchoring the frontcourt, Dallas collapsed defensively, slipping outside the top ten in rebound percentage, their worst mark in four years. The Mavericks, fresh off an NBA Finals appearance in 2024, couldn’t sustain the blow, stumbling to the lottery instead of a return to the playoffs.

Compounding the problem was the prolonged absence of Kyrie Irving, whose torn ACL in March not only robbed Dallas of its leading shot-creator but also stripped them of their late-game closer. Irving led the Mavericks in clutch scoring, ranking among the league’s top guards in fourth-quarter efficiency before the injury. Without him, Dallas often faltered in tight contests, dropping 11 of their final 15 games decided by single digits. His absence left the Mavericks searching for both direction and confidence in moments that typically define a season. Now, the Mavericks are aiming to bounce back, leaning on Anthony Davis’ leadership and Klay Thompson’s veteran presence.

NBA insider Marc Stein recently reported that several NBA teams have been hosting out-of-town mini-camps to strengthen chemistry before the season, and the Dallas Mavericks were no exception. While Klay Thompson organized a “well-attended bonding camp” in Newport Beach, it was Anthony Davis who made headlines by hosting a team dinner during the gathering. Stein further noted: “Word is Anthony Davis, though he was not able to participate in the on-court activities there as he continues to recover from July eye surgery to repair a detached retina, did host a dinner for his teammates while they were working out in Southern California.”

The timing of Davis stepping into this role is significant. The Mavericks are entering the 2025–26 season with uncertainty surrounding Kyrie Irving, whose health remains the team’s biggest question mark. Irving was averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 assists, and shooting 47.3% from three last season before suffering a torn ACL in March. His return date is still unclear, and around the league, the prevailing belief is that Dallas’ ceiling rises and falls with Irving’s availability. Without him, the burden shifts to Davis, Thompson, and rookie Cooper Flagg to stabilize a roster.

The chances of Kyrie Irving returning this season remain slim, as ACL recoveries rarely follow an accelerated timeline. That reality makes Dallas’ off-court meetings more than just routine bonding; they are a blueprint for how the team must operate without its most dynamic guard. Klay Thompson, who has long praised Irving’s brilliance, is now channeling that respect into leadership, working alongside Anthony Davis to foster unity and accountability. Their partnership signals a deliberate effort to fortify the Mavericks while Kyrie remains sidelined.

For a team widely believed to be “only as good as Kyrie is healthy,” the combination of Davis’ health struggles and Irving’s devastating setback left Dallas unable to meet expectations, forcing role players into responsibilities they weren’t built to carry.

Can Anthony Davis fill the void of Luka and Kyrie?

When the Mavericks traded Luka Doncic, they were handing Davis the keys to a franchise built on Luka’s singular offensive gravity. The challenge has only grown steeper with Kyrie Irving sidelined, leaving Dallas without its two most creative scorers from last season. That means Davis isn’t simply being asked to dominate in the paint; he’s being asked to be the stabilizing superstar who can carry the team through stretches where half-court offense could otherwise stall.

The stakes are obvious. As Dirk Nowitzki recently cautioned, Dallas can be as deep and versatile as any team in the West, but “it all comes down to whether AD stays healthy.” For Davis, that means proving he can be the consistent anchor the Mavericks can lean on while they await Irving’s uncertain return and Cooper Flagg’s development curve.

To help shoulder the load, Dallas added one of Davis’ former Lakers teammates, D’Angelo Russell, in free agency. Russell is expected to stabilize the backcourt until Irving returns, bringing scoring punch and playmaking versatility. At 29, he insists he’s still at the peak of his career: “I feel like I’m in my prime. I don’t feel old. I feel stronger, I feel wiser. I feel more careful,” Russell told The Backyard Podcast. For Davis, having a familiar pick-and-roll partner in Russell could be vital, giving him the kind of guard chemistry that helps maximize his offensive impact.

In the end, the Mavericks’ season rests on fragile but undeniable potential.