Anthony Davis Sets Sights on Delivering Mavericks’ First Title Since 2011

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by Raymund Tamayo

Dallas Mavericks superstar Anthony Davis.
Dallas Mavericks superstar Anthony Davis. Photo: Getty Images.

Anthony Davis didn’t hesitate when asked about his mission heading into the 2025-26 NBA season. The All-Star big man, now fully locked in for his first full year with the Dallas Mavericks, kept it simple: the goal is a championship.

“Same as last year — my goal hasn’t changed,” Davis declared. “We’ve got a strong group. The key is staying healthy, and if we do that, I believe we can win here.”

This will be Davis’ true fresh start in Dallas after arriving in a blockbuster deal last season. In just nine games wearing Mavericks colors, he flashed the kind of dominance that can tilt the West, averaging 20.0 points, 10.1 boards, and 4.4 dimes while leading the team to a 6-3 record. His debut against Houston was a showcase: 26 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists, and three blocks; the best rebounding debut in franchise history.

But the celebration didn’t last. A left adductor strain sidelined him for 18 games, followed by a detached retina from an accidental elbow by teammate Daniel Gafford. Surgery in July cleared his vision, but Davis will now wear protective eyewear for the rest of his career. “I’m not thrilled about it, but I’ve been practicing in them all summer,” he admitted. “It’s about getting used to it and being on the floor.”

Being available is his biggest focus. “If I’m on the floor, our chances of winning go way up,” Davis said. And this year, the Mavericks will need him more than ever. With Kyrie Irving rehabbing from ACL surgery until at least January, Davis is expected to anchor the team alongside veteran Klay Thompson while mentoring top pick Cooper Flagg.

Head coach Jason Kidd praised Davis’ leadership, calling his journey through injuries “an invaluable lesson” for Dallas’ younger core. Teammates have echoed that sentiment, with Dereck Lively II describing Davis as “unbelievable on defense” and Gafford labeling him “elite.”

Anthony Davis.
Anthony Davis. Photo: Getty Images.

Davis already owns an NBA title, an Olympic gold, and multiple All-NBA nods. But at 32, his sights are fixed on bringing Dallas back to the mountaintop, a place the franchise hasn’t been since Dirk Nowitzki’s 2011 run.

For Davis, the message is clear. New city, new chapter, same goal: deliver a banner.