Anthony Davis injury update: Mavs star could return to practice soon

MIAMI — A return for Anthony Davis appears imminent.

Though the Dallas Mavericks forward-center was downgraded to doubtful and then ruled out ahead of the team’s game on Monday, Nov. 24 against the Miami Heat, Mavericks coach Jason Kidd provided an update that points to his eventual return.

Davis has been dealing with a lower left leg injury and has missed the last 13 Mavericks games headed into Monday night. He had been dealing with an injury described as bilateral Achilles tendinopathy before he aggravated it on Wednesday, Oct. 29, during a game against the Indiana Pacers. Prior to exiting the game, Davis grabbed at his lower left leg, near his Achilles.

He did not return and has missed nearly a month with the ailment.

Here’s everything you need to know about Anthony Davis’ injury:

Magic Johnson college dominance: Led Michigan State to the 1979 NCAA Championship, defeating Larry Bird’s Indiana State. NBA: 5× NBA champion in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988 with the Los Angeles Lakers. 3× NBA Finals MVP in 1980, 1982 and 1987. 3× NBA Most Valuable Player in 1987, 1989 and 1990. 12× NBA All-Star: 1980, 1982-1992. 2× NBA All-Star Game MVP in 1990 and 1992. Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.

Carmelo Anthony college dominance: In his lone season (2003), led Syracuse to a national championship and earned Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors. Averaged 22.2 points and 10 rebounds per game as a freshman.NBA: 10× NBA All-Star. 2012–13 NBA scoring champion, averaging 28.7 points per game.

Before NBA glory: How Jordan, Bird, Magic and Curry ruled in college

Magic Johnson college dominance: Led Michigan State to the 1979 NCAA Championship, defeating Larry Bird’s Indiana State. NBA: 5× NBA champion in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988 with the Los Angeles Lakers. 3× NBA Finals MVP in 1980, 1982 and 1987. 3× NBA Most Valuable Player in 1987, 1989 and 1990. 12× NBA All-Star: 1980, 1982-1992. 2× NBA All-Star Game MVP in 1990 and 1992. Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.

Before NBA glory: How Jordan, Bird, Magic and Curry ruled in college

Magic Johnson college dominance: Led Michigan State to the 1979 NCAA Championship, defeating Larry Bird’s Indiana State. NBA: 5× NBA champion in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988 with the Los Angeles Lakers. 3× NBA Finals MVP in 1980, 1982 and 1987. 3× NBA Most Valuable Player in 1987, 1989 and 1990. 12× NBA All-Star: 1980, 1982-1992. 2× NBA All-Star Game MVP in 1990 and 1992. Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.

Before NBA glory: How Jordan, Bird, Magic and Curry ruled in college

Carmelo Anthony college dominance: In his lone season (2003), led Syracuse to a national championship and earned Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors. Averaged 22.2 points and 10 rebounds per game as a freshman.NBA: 10× NBA All-Star. 2012–13 NBA scoring champion, averaging 28.7 points per game.

Anthony Davis injury update

Although the Mavericks had listed it as the Achilles injury, the team later changed the diagnosis to a calf strain, which is a tricky injury to manage.

The Mavericks, though, are planning to work Davis back to practice this week.

“He continues to get better,” Kidd told reporters prior to tipoff. “He’s working to get back. We’re anticipating him at practice this week, so any time you have a calf strain, you have to be cautious, but he has worked extremely hard. The next step is practice Wednesday, and we’ll see what happens after that.”

According to ESPN, Davis, the 10-time All-Star had pushed to return to the floor, but Mavericks controlling owner Patrick Dumont has requested medical data that definitively shows Davis is not at risk of further injury before clearing him to return.

ESPN also reported that there was a disagreement between Davis’ personal medical staff and Mavericks director of health and performance Johann Bilsborough prior to the team’s Saturday, Nov. 8 game against the Wizards. According to the report, Bilsborough expressed concern about risking a more serious injury if Davis was rushed back too soon. Dumont, then, sided with Bilsborough.

USA TODAY Sports examined Achilles tendon ruptures in the NBA and found that calf strains and plantar fasciitis are two lower leg injuries that may be precursors to ruptures, especially when players returned to the floor quicker from those ailments than the general NBA population did. Teams, therefore, have been cautious with the timeframe with which players return to play.

Dallas Mavericks upcoming schedule

The Mavericks opened a four-game road trip on Monday night against Miami.

Dallas then will travel out west to Los Angeles to face the Lakers on Friday, Nov. 28. Davis is with the team during this roadtrip, and took his place on the bench Monday night, in street clothes.

The Mavericks then play the Clippers (Saturday, Nov. 29) and Nuggets (Monday, Dec. 1), before heading back home to host the Heat (Wednesday, Dec. 3).

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Anthony Davis injury update as Mavericks star could return soon