Anthony Davis delivered one of his most complete performances since joining the Dallas Mavericks, prompting head coach Jason Kidd to forecast big things for the team’s defense as the regular season nears.

Davis scored 25 points with six rebounds and two blocks in just under 25 minutes during the Mavericks’ 114–101 preseason win over the Utah Jazz. The outing showcased both his interior dominance and his growing comfort within Dallas’ new system.

It was a timely statement for a player once regarded as the league’s premier two-way force — a reminder that his best basketball might still be ahead.

Kidd, speaking after the game, said the performance marked an important step forward for both Davis and the Mavericks’ evolving identity.

“This is probably one of his best games,” Kidd said. “We’ve only played a couple, but you can see his conditioning. You can see that he’s starting to ramp up more minutes, and we’ll ramp up his minutes again on Thursday. But if he’s going to play like he did tonight, that puts us in a good seat to win a lot of games.”

The Mavericks’ defense has been a point of emphasis throughout training camp, and Kidd believes the presence of Davis — alongside Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II — could elevate Dallas to elite status in rim protection.

“I think we could be one of the best shot-blocking teams in the league,” Kidd said. “Being able to do it from the inside out, playmake defensively — you could see he was into the game from the beginning. It was a really good game. We have to build on that.”

Davis, who has averaged more than two blocks per game in each of the past four seasons, has brought an unmistakable defensive edge since his arrival. His ability to anchor the paint, switch onto guards, and dictate tempo fits seamlessly into Kidd’s revamped scheme under new offensive coordinator Jay Triano.

The eight-time All-Star said he feels encouraged by both the team’s energy and its progress on both ends.

“The vibe is good,” Davis said. “Energy is high. We’re continuously working and getting better each and every day.”

He added that while the Mavericks’ offensive system remains a work in progress, he’s confident in the group’s balance and chemistry.

“Defensively, there are still some things we’ve got to clean up,” Davis said. “We’ve been fouling jump shooters too much. Offensively, Jay Triano’s system is new for all of us, but we’re moving the ball, sharing it, and I think we can be really good on both ends with the weapons we have.”

Kidd also praised the early-season combinations built around Davis, particularly when using him at center in a faster lineup that emphasizes spacing and pace.

“The first group was really good on both sides of the ball,” Kidd said. “The pace was good, and defensively, to have a rating of 99 was really good. AD at the five was a nice look — we hadn’t really looked at that yet. It looked promising.”

Davis said conditioning has been a focus as Dallas prepares for a faster tempo this season.

“You’ve got to be in great shape,” Davis said. “It’s easy to talk about playing fast, but when you actually have to do it — constantly running, getting into your spots, moving — it takes a well-conditioned team.”

With one preseason game remaining against the Los Angeles Lakers, Kidd plans to extend minutes for his starters and continue refining rotations ahead of opening night.

“Everybody’s minutes will go up tomorrow,” Kidd said. “Going into this being our last preseason game, we’ll try to get those guys extended minutes. Things were going well for AD, and we were looking to maybe get him into the fourth. Tomorrow, we’ll probably get everyone trending toward that fourth quarter.”

The Mavericks will tipoff against the Lakers on Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. CST at T-Mobile Arena.