Anthony Davis participated in five-on-five games this week, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Twitter link), who adds that it’s believed to be Davis’ first “game-speed action” since he underwent eye surgery in July.
The Mavericks‘ big man had a procedure to repair a detached retina, which was reportedly caused by “multiple hits to the face” last season. He was projected to be ready for training camp at the time of the operation, but no medical updates have been issued since then.
Davis’ optical issues began last November when he was still with the Lakers. He visited an ophthalmologist after getting poked in the left eye during a game, which caused swelling and difficulty keeping the eye open.
Davis only appeared in nine games after being traded to Dallas in early February, but that was due to an adductor injury rather than anything to do with his eyes. He averaged 20.0 points, 10.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.2 blocks in just 29.6 minutes per night in those nine contests.
This week’s scrimmages don’t guarantee that Davis will be a full participant when training camp begins September 30, but they’re definitely a positive sign. Davis made his 10th All-Star appearance last season, and the Mavs are hoping that his improved health, along with the addition of No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, will lead them back to the playoffs.
AD — 2025-26 MVP ……. Luka who ??
Fact is he has to be Mavs MVP —-
Would love to see him in top three voting …. something to shoot for. Didn’t know anything about his eye.
Games played requirement = no AD
AD the scrimmage MVP
AD playing basketball is always newsworthy…
Its like a solar eclipse
Hope he wears goggles.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar first wore goggles during the 1974–75 NBA season after missing the first 16 games due to a scratched cornea during a preseason game.
During that season with the Milwaukee Bucks, his stats were:
Games played: 65
Points per game: 29.98
Rebounds per game: 14.03
Assists per game: 4.06
Blocks per game: 3.26
Steals per game: 1.00
Field goal percentage: 51.26%
Free throw percentage: 76.29%
Hope AD wears goggles too lol …….
I don’t know if any of you have ever had a scratched cornea from basketball but wow, it is extremely uncomfortable.
I had one play where a guy got me twice. Driving baseline he caught me in the eye, but play continued, and he swiped at my eye again with his fingernail on the eyeball.
I tried to rest, tried to lay down, but it felt like a grain of sand on my eye, and every time I blinked it was difficult. Had to go to the hospital at midnight to get some kind of relief.
Thankfully, it healed up in a few days, but looking at the pic the doctor showed me, it looked like a small piece removed. Should’ve checked the guy’s fingernails for DNA lol
You would think Anthony Davis would wear Kareem style goggles from here on out. He’s probably worried that it won’t look cool.
Thanks for sharing.
Regarding why not goggles: I don’t think AD is that vain. He’s 30+ years old with a family: wife and kids.
I’d imagine that it has to do with peripheral vision. Even with perfectly clear goggles, it does reduce how much he can see around him. When things start getting sweaty, perhaps the slightest bit of blur, residue, or fog would hamper vision during the heat of battle, to see a defender closing in for a block or steal, or a teammate in the left corner waiting for an outlet pass. If there’s any reason he doesn’t want the goggles, it’s gotta be competitive.
Absolutely correct. It would definitely take some getting used to and I’m sure you’re right. He’s not vain like that. I was just throwing it out there lol
It’s like glasses, even though they help there’s nothing like the real thing of unimpaired vision.
Makes you wonder how Kareem did it all those years. Amazing really.
Kareem was amazing. I wonder if spacing and spread-the-floor offense being less of a thing in that era made peripheral vision loss less of an issue.
i.e. AD will be asked to spray the ball to shooters in the corners and at the break much more than Kareem was? Just spitballing.
What’s the over/under on # of games he plays this season, 50?