Awkward! Did Anthony Davis Just Expose the Mavericks’ Hypocrisy—and Is He Thinking About Leaving?

The Dallas Mavericks’ Nightmare Season

It’s no secret—the Dallas Mavericks have had a brutal year.

After reaching the NBA Finals last season, they were expected to run it back as one of the West’s top contenders. Instead, they’ve completely unraveled.

• Luka Dončić was traded in a shocking move that sent shockwaves through the league.

  

• The roster has been decimated by injuries, with Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively, Daniel Gafford, P.J. Washington, and Dante Exum all missing significant time.

• Dallas has spiraled down the standings, looking nothing like last year’s Finals squad.

For Mavs fans, it’s been a gut-wrenching fall from grace—a trip from paradise to hell in less than a year.

But as painful as this season has been, nothing has sparked more controversy than a recent video of Anthony Davis—and it’s left the entire basketball world shaking their heads at the Mavericks’ hypocrisy.

Caught on Camera: Anthony Davis’ “Vacation” Sparks Outrage

A few days ago, Dallas local media leaked a video of Anthony Davis at a golf course in Plano, Texas.

The clip showed Davis rocking a casual fit—shorts and a vest—puffing on a cigar as he played a relaxed round of golf.

At first glance, this might not seem like a big deal. Davis has been sidelined with a groin injury since his first game as a Maverick, and while he’s still recovering, golf is a low-intensity activity that shouldn’t interfere with his rehab.

Plus, NBA stars smoking cigars isn’t exactly unheard of—Michael Jordan basically made it a trademark.

But here’s where things get interesting.

The Mavs’ Front Office Just Got Caught in 4K

Mavericks owner Chris Dumont has spent months defending the controversial decision to trade Luka Dončić, and his reasoning has always centered around work ethic.

His exact words?

“If you look at the greats—Jordan, Bird, Kobe, Shaq—they put in the work every single day. If you’re not doing that, you shouldn’t be a Maverick.”

To put it bluntly, Dumont basically accused Luka of not being disciplined enough to lead a championship team.

Rumors soon surfaced that the Mavs’ front office was concerned about Luka’s drinking habits—specifically, his love for hookah and beer.

Their conclusion? Luka wouldn’t last another five years at his peak—so they cut ties before it was “too late.”

But now, here’s the problem:

If Luka’s lifestyle wasn’t acceptable in Dallas, then why is Davis allowed to smoke cigars and play golf while still injured?

NBA fans—and more importantly, the media—aren’t letting this slide.

One U.S. outlet even called out the Mavericks directly:

“If the Mavericks traded Luka for drinking beer and smoking hookah, then why are they letting AD puff cigars and play golf midseason while still injured? Didn’t Dumont say, ‘If you want a vacation, you shouldn’t be a Maverick?’”

Ouch.

So, is Davis already looking for a way out of Dallas?

Does Anthony Davis Even Want to Be Here?

The video itself doesn’t necessarily mean Davis wants out—but the situation is definitely raising eyebrows.

For starters, Davis has reportedly been pushing hard to return this season, despite pressure from within the organization to shut it down.

Mavs insider Tim MacMahon reported that several people inside the team have tried to convince Davis to call it a season. Some have even suggested a medical shutdown would be the smartest move, given how injury-riddled the team is.

But Davis has refused.

Instead, just days ago, he went down to the G-League for a rehab stint, played 5-on-5 scrimmages, and was promptly recalled to the main roster.

This tells us two things:

1. Davis wants to prove something. He knows the narrative around him is that the Lakers fleeced the Mavericks in the trade. He wants to show he’s still a top-tier star.

2. He believes he has something to play for. If he were checked out, he’d be taking the easy route and shutting it down. Instead, he’s doing the opposite—fighting to get back on the court.

But here’s the reality:

Even if Davis returns, Dallas is in deep trouble.

• Lively, Gafford, and Washington may not be back in time for the playoffs.

• Kyrie Irving is out for the season with a torn ACL.

• The backcourt is completely depleted, and Davis alone won’t be enough to save them.

Even in the best-case scenario—Dallas sneaks into the playoffs—what are they really playing for? A first-round exit?

And looking at the future? It’s even worse.

A Future Without Kyrie? The Mavs’ Long-Term Nightmare

Let’s face it: Dallas’ window is slamming shut faster than anyone expected.

• Kyrie is 33 years old.

• He just suffered an ACL tear.

• Historically, guards don’t come back the same after this kind of injury.

If Kyrie never fully recovers, then what’s left in Dallas?

A 33-year-old Anthony Davis, struggling to carry a broken roster, in an ultra-competitive Western Conference where teams like Denver, OKC, and Minnesota are only getting stronger?

If Davis really wants another ring, does he truly believe Dallas is the right place to do it?

And if the Mavs’ own front office is so obsessed with “work ethic,” how long before they start questioning AD the same way they questioned Luka?

That’s why it’s not crazy to think Davis might want out.

Right now, it’s just speculation.

But if Dallas flames out in the postseason—or worse, misses the playoffs entirely—expect the rumors to explode this summer.

And if Davis really does leave, it’ll be another self-inflicted wound by a franchise that seems determined to torpedo itself.

For now, though?

All eyes are on Anthony Davis’ next move.