Anthony Davis’ much-anticipated debut for the Dallas Mavericks was short-lived, as the star big man suffered another injury just one game into his tenure with the team. Davis, who had recently recovered from an abdominal strain, sustained a left adductor strain during the Mavericks’ matchup against the Houston Rockets on Saturday. 

NBA insider Shams Charania confirmed that Davis will require rehabilitation, keeping him sidelined for several weeks.

“The Mavericks will have a cautious rehab for Anthony Davis,” Charania reported. “I’m told the expectation is that Davis will need rehabilitation for the coming weeks on that adductor injury. Just a brutal blow for the Mavericks because this is a player who just returned from an ab strain in his Mavericks debut over the weekend, and he looked absolutely dominant.“

Davis’ injury history has been a major concern throughout his career, and this latest setback adds to the frustration for Mavericks fans. The hope was that his addition would boost Dallas’ playoff push, but now the team will have to navigate the next few weeks without him.

With the Mavericks sitting in a competitive Western Conference, Davis’ absence could impact their playoff positioning. If Dallas fails to secure a direct postseason spot, the focus will shift to getting AD back in time for the Play-In Tournament.

In another development, Kyrie Irving has been named as Anthony Davis’ replacement in the 2025 NBA All-Star Game. The announcement came Monday after it was confirmed that Davis would be unavailable for the event.

Irving last appeared in an All-Star game during the 2022-23 season, the same year he was traded from the Brooklyn Nets to the Mavericks. His selection is an exciting twist for fans, as it sets up intriguing reunions with his former teammates, LeBron James and Kevin Durant.

James and Irving famously won a championship together with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, while Irving and Durant played side by side in Brooklyn before parting ways. Their reunion will add an extra layer of excitement to the All-Star showcase.

With Irving stepping in, Shaquille O’Neal’s All-Star team now appears to be the favorite to win, given the chemistry among its players. Many of the roster members also played together for Team USA in the 2024 Paris Olympics, further solidifying their on-court synergy.

While the loss of Davis is a disappointment, Mavericks fans will be eager to see how Irving performs on the All-Star stage and, more importantly, how Dallas manages in AD’s absence over the coming weeks.