Whispers of Anthony Davis shutting it down for the season started flying after he picked up an adductor injury in his Mavericks debut on February 8. The narrative? He was prioritizing his health over a late-season push. But hold up—that’s not the case. Instead of shelving their star, the Mavericks sent him to their G-League affiliate, the Texas Legends, so he could get in some five-on-five work. It’s all part of the plan to ease him back into action, not sideline him for good.

Brett Siegel put the shutting him down for the season rumors to bed, making it clear that Davis isn’t done. “Davis wants to return to the court this season. Dallas doesn’t appear ready to shut him and others down amid their fall in the West,” he reported. But before he steps back onto the hardwood, Davis hit a golf course first.

AD was out on the golf course in Plano, Texas on Tuesday, and let’s be real—that’s not the move of a guy shutting it down for the season. The 10x All-Star looked completely unbothered on the golf course in Texas, rocking a t-shirt, shorts, and a vest—oh, and let’s not forget the stogie in his mouth. With the playoff race getting wild, it looks like the Mavericks’ star is inching closer to a return. All signs are pointing to him lacing up again soon.

With Davis and other key players sidelined, the team has been in a tailspin, dropping eight of their last ten games. They’re barely holding onto the 10th seed, and with the Suns just a game behind, that play-in spot isn’t exactly secure.

Before the injury, Davis was on an absolute tear. In 43 games, he was averaging 25.7 points, 12 rebounds, and 3.4 assists while shooting 52.8% from the field. The Mavs need that version of AD back—fast—if they want to avoid a complete collapse.

But his return presents a dilemma the franchise can’t ignore.

Anthony Davis’ return could spoil the Mavs’ future

The Mavericks are in one of the roughest spots in the NBA—maybe even in recent memory. Trading Luka Dončić to the Lakers sent the franchise into a free fall, and injuries have only made things worse. Davis barely had time to settle in before suffering an injury in his Mavs debut. Kyrie Irving’s season ended in early March after an ACL tear. With most of the team’s core sidelined, some are even questioning if Dallas might start forfeiting games just to limp to the finish line.

With the season unraveling, the Mavericks’ best bet might be the 2025 NBA Draft, where they currently have the 13th-best lottery odds. But on Monday, after they assigned Davis to their G-League affiliate, the Legends, AD’s return seems imminent. And getting ‘The Brow’ back should be a good thing, right?

Not so fast.

Even with a depleted roster, he’s the kind of player who can change games on his own. His lone performance for Dallas proved it—26 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists, and three blocks while finishing +11 in a win over Houston. If he shakes off the rust quickly, he might help them win just enough games to kill their draft chances.

Sure, stacking up some wins would be nice, but let’s be real—Dallas isn’t built for a deep playoff run. A high draft pick could be the reset button they desperately need heading into next season.