Who doesn’t long for a fresh start? Anthony Davis and the Dallas Mavericks were hoping to enter this season and move on from an injury-riddled and drama-filled 2024-25 campaign. However, just a few days into training camp, familiar cracks have already begun to show, with conditioning and injury concerns threatening to derail a team that hopes to contend for a championship. The most recent blow occurred on the opening day of training camp.

Center Daniel Gafford sprained his ankle and is ruled out for 2-3 weeks, per RealGM. This is a gut punch for Dallas, given Gafford’s recent injury history. Just last season, he missed the final two months with a severe Grade 3 MCL sprain, after which the Mavericks recently committed to him with a three-year, $54 million deal. His absence leaves a significant gap in their center rotation, with his partner, third-year Dereck Lively II, likely to shoulder most of the load.

To make things worse, though, superstar Anthony Davis was recently sighted at camp, looking significantly heavier than in previous appearances… Later, official listings stated him to be at 268 pounds, a full 15 pounds heavier than the previous year. This kind of gain raises a lot of questions about readiness, especially for someone with AD’s track record with injuries. Pair this with the recent announcement that he will be required to wear protective goggles for the rest of his career after eye surgery, and this has drawn a lot of attention about whether Davis and his colleagues have been starting behind schedule.

AD has been quick to dismiss the chatter.

In a recent public statement, he said, “I feel good. I kind of almost go into every season [like this], because I put on so much weight over the summer. By the time November comes, I’m usually like 255, 258. I never want to come in at my playing weight, because then I lose weight during the season and then I’m too small. I lose about 10 to 12 pounds very quickly.”

“During camp, I already lost five pounds — all the running and playing. So I’m never concerned about that. I feel great. I’m moving great, I feel good,“ Davis said, assuring the Mavs faithful about his long-tested intentional process.

Still, for a team already juggling a Kyrie Irving absence, potentially for the whole year, and Daniel Gafford’s recently announced absence, Anthony Davis’ defense doesn’t erase the optics. Dallas needs the beginning of their season to be a ‘statement of stability’ to offset the uneasy wait caused by training camp.

The Ultra-Positive Sentiment of the Mavericks’ Frontcourt at Media Day

Anthony Davis arrived at Media Day in high spirits, even though the eye injury, which required surgery, added a new layer to his prep. The hoopster’s retina is still recovering. Davis admitted that he would be wearing gear, which he was “not too excited about.”

But he then joked, “You guys will see me in the Horace Grants this year. It won’t be like that, but I will have some protective eyewear for sure.” Beyond the humor, Davis will serve an important role: anchoring the defense, mentoring the rookie Cooper Flagg, and providing a steady veteran presence.

Dereck Lively II is set to take a bold step in his third season after returning from a stress fracture and foot surgery. He seems to be relatively high in confidence despite coming off an injury-laden campaign during which he managed just 36 appearances. The big man made an interesting revelation, saying, “I’ve grown from 7’1 and believe I’m around 7’2 or 7’3,” which should supplement his defensive ability, anchoring the Mavs frontcourt alongside AD as starting center.

The depth in the Mavericks is also set to be tested early.

Daniel Gafford, though sidelined during camp, said that he’s “expecting Dereck Lively II to have a breakout season,” adding that Cooper Flagg’s arrival after their disastrous 2024-25 season was “a miracle.”

Backup forward PJ Washington, expected to take on a larger role following Daniel Gafford’s injury, summed up the team’s mindset going into camp, saying, “We feel like we can be the best defense in the league,” echoing GM Nico Harrison’s sentiment after the blockbuster Luka Doncic trade: “Defense wins championships.”

Where do you think the Mavericks finish next season?