Dallas Mavericks center Anthony Davis needs another week before he’s under consideration for a return to game action.
Davis played five games this season before sitting out with a left calf strain that forced him out of an Oct. 29 game against the Indiana Pacers in the first quarter.
He targeted Nov. 8 as his preferred return date before Patrick Dumont, the Mavericks’ governor and primary decision-maker on personnel matters since GM Nico Harrison was fired, vetoed the decision. Dumont’s interjection prompted a surge in the already simmering speculation around Davis being traded.
But head coach Jason Kidd said Dallas is only focused on Davis’ health because of the calf strain and recent history of “catastrophic” injuries that began with a similar diagnosis.
“He wants to be out there to help us,” Kidd said. “But this gives him seven to 10 days to get better or to get stronger. Hopefully, in seven to 10 days, he’s back on the floor.”
Davis has missed eight consecutive games but Kidd described his recent workouts as “good progress.” Point guard Kyrie Irving is recovering from a torn ACL and might be ready to resume full-court work as soon as January.
Celtics All-Star Jayson Tatum and Pacers All-Star Tyrese Haliburton are recovering from major injuries — ruptured Achilles — that began in some part as calf-related concerns.
Mavs director of health and performance Johann Bilsborough pushed Dumont to take extreme caution with Davis, a 32-year-old, 10-time All-Star who played a combined 51 regular-season games last season (nine in Dallas) after being acquired from the Los Angeles Lakers in the Luka Doncic deal.
