Mavs’ Anthony Davis might need surgery on hand, sources say

Dallas Mavericks star Anthony Davis is suffering from ligament damage in his left hand that could require surgery that would sideline him for several months, sources tell ESPN.

An MRI Friday revealed the damage sustained while Davis defended Lauri Markkanen on a drive to the basket late in Thursday’s road loss to the Utah Jazz. Sources said Davis would get a second opinion to determine whether surgery was necessary.

If Davis and the Mavs choose a non-surgical route, he is expected to miss at least six weeks, sources said.

The Mavs have been aggressively exploring the trade market for Davis, 32, as the Feb. 5 deadline approaches. Sources said the market for Davis, a 10-time All-Star, is complicated by his history of durability issues and his desire to sign a lucrative contract extension this offseason.

Davis is due $58.5 million next season and has a $62.8 million player option in 2027-28.

Injuries have limited Davis to just 29 games, plus a few play-in appearances, since arriving in Dallas in early February 2025 as the headliner of the return of the controversial Luka Doncic trade.

Davis, who was recovering from an abdominal strain at the time of the trade, suffered an adductor strain in his debut with the Mavericks. This injury kept him sidelined for the next six weeks.

Davis missed 14 games in November of this season with a strained left calf, an absence that was extended when Mavs Governor Patrick Dumont refused to approve Davis’ return until medical tests indicated there was no risk of the injury worsening. Davis missed two more games after suffering a mild adductor strain during the Mavs’ Christmas Day loss to the Golden State Warriors.

Davis averaged 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 20 games this season.