Anthony Davis Reportedly Warned of Torn Achilles by Mavs as Harrison 'Urged' Return

The Dallas Mavericks' medical staff and now-former general manager Nico Harrison presented messages to star Anthony Davis about his potential return from a left calf strain, according to The Athletic's Joe Vardon, Christian Clark and Sam Amick.

"Multiple league sources said Davis has tried to convince the Mavs to let him return to the court, and Harrison urged him to return, but the team's medical staff forbade it, citing the potential for a torn Achilles if Davis returned too soon," the report said.

ESPN's Tim MacMahon previously reported that Mavs governor Patrick Dumont had inserted himself into the conversation as well, "stating his preference to err on the side of caution."

MacMahon added how "Dumont's involvement in that level of decision-making is an indication of eroding trust in Harrison."

Sure enough, Dumont sent Harrison packing hours after MacMahon's story dropped.

Davis' desire to play is understandable. Dallas is 3-8 and has lost five of its last six games without him in the lineup. We're not even to December and it looks like the Mavs are headed for the draft lottery.

But this is why it's important for a medical staff to intervene and perhaps save a player from themselves.

Kevin Durant and Tyrese Haliburton are the two notable examples of stars who tried to play through calf injuries and wound up tearing their Achilles. The Mavs' trainers weren't being alarmist when they raised this fear about Davis.

Of course, there are numerous NBA players who fought through calf trouble and came back to little or no fanfare.

Still, the stakes are too high for both Davis and the Mavericks to get him back on the court before his calf has fully healed.

Even if Harrison's ouster points toward an organizational reset, trading AD would be the first big step in a rebuild. His value would crater if he suffers a serious Achilles injury that sidelines him for the remainder of 2025-26 and some of next season as well.