"You know what game I want to play" - Anthony Davis admits he's eager to return against Lakers

The Dallas Mavericks' season hasn't gone the way they had hoped, mainly due to injuries suffered by star players, led by All-Star big man Anthony Davis. However, hope beckons on the horizon with Davis' impending return from a calf injury that has kept him out of the lineup for the last 14 games.

While no official decision has been made yet, AD gave his two cents, stressing that if it were up to him, he would make his return on Friday in a marquee matchup against his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers.

Eager to face his former team

A 13-year veteran, Davis has been around the league long enough to know that first and foremost, it's a multi-billion-dollar business. Hence, trades will happen, which means he doesn't harbor any ill will towards the Purple and Gold — a team he spent six seasons with, and where he won his first NBA title in 2020.

However, that doesn't mean there isn't a little extra motivation when facing off against your former team.

"You know what game I want to play," Davis declared. "But we'll see. We'll have a conversation. See what makes the most sense with the medical staff and coaching staff. No decision has been made. Obviously, I would like to. But at the end of the day, it's getting back on the floor."

Davis last suited up for Dallas on October 29, playing a little over six minutes before getting ruled out due to a calf strain. In total, the 6'11" big man has played for the Mavericks only 14 times since they acquired him in a stunning trade involving Slovenian sensation Luka Doncic.

Without Davis manning the middle, the Mavericks have tumbled to a 5-14 record, the second-worst in the Western Conference, a sorry state for a team that came close to winning it all in 2024.

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Surprised by the Harrison firing

Speaking of the trade that brought Davis to Dallas, he said he was taken aback by the decision to fire then general manager Nico Harrison. As critical as Harrison has been in molding the Mavericks into the team it is today, many — including the fans — remain resentful of his decision to trade away Doncic, a surefire Hall of Famer and a generational talent.

Davis, though, shared that he has moved past that trade and the team's recent developments.

"He played a huge part in getting me here and wanting me to fulfill his vision that he saw. It was definitely tough. Me and him had a conversation. Me and (Mavericks governor) Patrick (Dumont) had a conversation. You know, it's the business of basketball. Once I had those conversations, I was able to move forward," he said.

Additionally, Davis is no stranger to trade rumors, and the Mavs' struggles this season have sparked clamors for another round of trade talks. However, the superstar is not letting himself get distracted by these speculations.

"This is basketball. This is what comes with it. I think everybody in their career has been involved in trade talks. Been traded. Or some type of move. That doesn't affect me," he stated.

There's an eternity of regular-season basketball left. And although the road back to playoff contention is an uphill climb, the Mavericks getting back their superstar center will certainly make things interesting.

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This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Nov 27, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.