Anthony Davis Rejects Surgery Claim, Medical Update Clarifies Mavericks' Path Forward

Anthony Davis publicly pushed back Tuesday after a report misstated the nature of his left-hand injury, prompting confusion around his availability and reigniting trade speculation before a medical evaluation clarified his path forward.

The Dallas Mavericks later confirmed that Davis does not require surgery and is expected to heal in approximately six weeks following an evaluation with his physician. The update contradicted earlier reporting that framed the injury as season-altering.

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Medical Evaluation Confirms Non-Surgical Timeline

Dallas’ clarification reset expectations around Davis’ short-term outlook. The 32-year-old has missed the team’s past two games and has been limited to 20 appearances this season due to various injuries, but the non-surgical timeline leaves open the possibility of a return later this year.

Davis is averaging 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.7 blocks and 1.1 steals in his first full season with the Dallas Mavericks following last season’s blockbuster trade that sent Luka Dončić out of the franchise to the L.A. Lakers.

Before the medical update became public, Davis took to social media to address the report.

Yall better stop listening to all these lies on these apps!

— Anthony Davis (@AntDavis23) January 13, 2026

Responding to a post that cited a multi-month absence and surgery, he wrote: “Lies!” The brief response immediately cast doubt on the initial framing and drew attention to the lack of an official medical determination at the time.

Surgery Report Sparks Confusion Around Davis’ Status

ESPN’s Shams Charania had reported that Davis was set to undergo surgery to repair ligament damage in his left hand, adding that his “season is over in Dallas.” The report also connected the injury to the Mavericks’ struggles and suggested renewed trade discussions involving Davis.

Teams cited as having shown interest at various points included the Toronto Raptors and Atlanta Hawks. Other teams with less feasible, but some level interest, have included the Golden State Warriors and Milwaukee Bucks.

It remains to be seen how interested the trade market will be in Davis before the Feb. 5 deadline, but it only helps that he avoided a multi-month recovery timetable had he required surgery.

Context for Dallas Moving Forward

The Mavericks are 15–25 and sit 12th in the Western Conference, trailing the Memphis Grizzlies by 2.5 games for the final play-in spot. Any late push would hinge on improved health, including Davis’ return and the eventual comeback of Kyrie Irving from a torn ACL, along with continued production from Rookie of the Year front-runner Cooper Flagg.

Davis is under contract through next season with a player option for 2027–28, a factor that continues to loom as the Feb. 5 trade deadline approaches. While the injury initially appeared to cloud his status, the confirmation that surgery is not required reframed the situation.

The episode underscored how quickly premature reporting can escalate uncertainty when injuries, roster direction and trade timelines intersect. Davis’ public rebuttal and the subsequent medical update brought clarity, even as broader questions about Dallas’ season remain unresolved.