Anthony Davis, the 2020 NBA champion, is expected to be a key player for the Dallas Mavericks this season.
In the end, the Dallas Mavericks parted ways with superstar Luka Doncic in order to trade Anthony Davis, and the 2025-26 season will be his first full season with the franchise.
The Mavericks have done everything they can to keep Davis happy, including allowing him to change positions. But is it really worth it?
Davis revealed he was overweight during NBA media day and had the worst performance of his career against the Charlotte Hornets.
For context, the Mavericks suffered a shocking 120-116 loss to the Hornets. In the loss, Davis had 12 points, four rebounds, and one assist.
However, AD posted a plus/minus of 24 in 24 minutes of playing time, highlighting how he held the Mavericks in check during the loss.
“Anthony Davis is fat and slow. The Mavs should trade him for Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura,” one disgruntled fan wrote.
Another fan added, “Dallas would be much better if they traded Davis in the offseason.”
A third Mavs fan wrote: “Tell me again how valuable it was for him to trade away his top 3 players.”
While Mavericks fans praised Davis, they praised Cooper Flagg’s performance.
“That boy is in his bag like he forgot his homework,” said Phan. At the same time, another fan wrote, “His ceiling is a modern-day Larry Bird!”
Davis, a veteran, is fully committed to coaching Flagg ahead of his rookie season in the NBA. However, sometimes even a veterinarian needs guidance.
After a disappointing night in the preseason, Davis received words of reassurance from his 18-year-old teammates.
“I have to help AD more and find ways to make him play a little bit better. I have to help him impact the game when he posts or gets ISO,” Flagg said.
He added: “So I have to find a way to help him a little bit more, but I think it’s been tough to pull off.”
Remember, this is just preseason, after all. At that point, the Flagg-AD duo is already looking strong, but it will likely take some time to reach its full potential.