Injury Concerns for Mavericks as New Season Approaches

As the Dallas Mavericks gear up for the highly anticipated rookie season of Cooper Flagg, they may face significant challenges due to injuries among key players. NBA insider Marc Stein revealed on the DLLS Mavs podcast that forward Anthony Davis is still recovering from offseason eye surgery and is "not fully back on the court yet" as the team prepares for the 2025-26 regular season.

Davis underwent surgery in July to repair a detached retina, an injury he managed to play through last season. The Mavericks initially believed he would be ready for the start of training camp, which kicks off on September 29. The team’s first preseason game against the Oklahoma City Thunder is set for October 6.

Concerns Surrounding Other Players

The Mavericks have multiple injury concerns with training camp just a couple of weeks away. Kyrie Irving, another crucial player for the team, won’t be ready until at least January after suffering a torn ACL during a game against the Sacramento Kings on March 3.

Additionally, rookie Dereck Lively II had surgery for bone spurs in his right foot in July but is expected to return in time for the start of training camp. Lively’s participation is vital as he appeared in only 36 games last season due to foot issues.

The Impact of Health on Team Success

The Mavericks are eager to turn things around after a tumultuous season that followed the Luka Dončić trade. The team found some luck winning the No. 1 pick in the lottery, which enabled them to select rookie sensation Cooper Flagg. Flagg is expected to be central to the Mavericks' strategy moving forward, but the team’s success will heavily depend on the health of key players like Davis and Irving.

As the Mavericks prepare, they will tip off the 2025-26 regular season at home against the San Antonio Spurs on October 22, and fans will be watching closely to see how the injury situations unfold.