Will Anthony Davis Play vs. Lakers? Latest Timeline for Mavs Star's Return from Injury

Dallas Mavericks star Anthony Davis is set to make his long-awaited return to the court against his former team.

Per ESPN's Shams Charania, Davis plans to play for the Mavs in Friday's NBA Cup game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd told reporters on Wednesday that Davis was able to go through practice and would officially be listed as questionable for the Lakers game.

Kidd added if Davis didn't play on Friday, he would likely return the next day when the Mavs take on the Los Angeles Clippers.

Davis certainly made it sound like he preferred to play against the Lakers instead of the Clippers if he had his choice.

Davis, 32, has only played 14 games with the Mavericks since the trade with the Lakers. He has been limited to nine games this season due to a calf strain. His original timeline for return was Nov. 8 but ESPN's Tim MacMahon reported on Nov. 16 that team governor Patrick Dumont overruled that plan.

Per that report, "Dumont made it clear during a meeting with people involved with Davis' care that he would not approve the 10-time All-Star's return until he was provided medical metrics that indicated there was no risk of aggravating the calf strain or suffering a related, potentially catastrophic injury, sources said."

MacMahon added that the team's director of health and performance, Johann Bilsborough, recommended a "cautious approach over the clearance from Davis' personal medical staff."

Instead, Davis was reevaluated a week later and the team announced on Nov. 16 that he would be sidelined for at least another 7-10 days.

Davis was the main return for the Mavericks in the controversial Luka Dončić trade that infuriated fans and ultimately served as the catalyst for general manager Nico Harrison being fired midseason. The star big man was expected to pair with 2025 No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg and veteran star Kyrie Irving, but with both Davis and Irving dealing with injuries to start the season, the Mavs have gone just 5-14 so far.

The impending return of Davis, alongside the end of the Harrison era, could help revitalize these Mavericks.