The bizarre reason delaying Anthony Davis’ return to the Mavericks

It seems Mavericks’ governor Patrick Dumont is the one calling the shots for when Anthony Davis will return to the court. 

Davis has been sidelined with a left calf strain and will reportedly miss his seventh consecutive game on Wednesday, and ESPN reported that Davis won’t return until Dumont gives the OK. 

The Mavericks owner asked for medical data showing that the 10-time All-Star will not risk aggravating his injury if he plays before green-lighting any return, according to the report. 

The concern right now appears to be that Davis could suffer a severe injury if he is not entirely healed, similar to what happened to Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton last season during the NBA Finals, when he went down with an Achilles tear. 

Davis, 32, originally aimed to return to the court on Nov. 8 against the Wizards, but Johann Bilsborough, the Mavericks’ director of health and performance, and Davis’ personal medical staff differed in their opinions on that. 

Dumont went with the team’s medical staff’s opinion, and Davis sat out that game. 

According to ESPN, Dumont’s increased involvement with the decision-making process over Davis showed the disintegrating trust he had with former general manager Nico Harrison. 

Harrison was fired Tuesday, nine months after completing the trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers for Davis. 

Davis was the centerpiece in the deal on the Mavericks’ side of the February trade that shook the NBA universe.

He’s also been sidelined more than he’s actually suited up for the Mavericks since the trade. 

Davis has played in a grand total of 16 games, which includes two play-in games, since he arrived in Dallas. 

The five-time All-NBA selection dealt with an abdominal injury when he was traded as part of the earth-shattering move and was quick to return in time for his new team’s first home game, only to suffer a related adductor strain during a Feb. 8 win.