The 6-foot-10 Kentucky product, 32, was traded to the Mavericks as the returning centerpiece in a deal that saw five-time All-NBA First Team guard Luka Doncic, 26, land with Davis' old Lakers running mate LeBron James on the Los Angeles Lakers.

With season-ending injuries to nine-time All-Star guard Kyrie Irving, Dante Exum, and Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Davis nevertheless decided to return to the floor for Dallas. The 36-38 club is currently the No. 10 seed in the West, and angling for a play-in tournament berth.

Anthony Davis pushed to get back on the court in Dallas. From the outside, there were a lot of calls to shut him down, especially with Kyrie Irving out for the season with a torn ACL — why not tank, try and get a better draft seeding and hope for another Dereck Lively II-style pick up?