With Anthony Davis sidelined again and Cooper Flagg dazzling, the Mavs face a crossroads. Is a trade looming for the injury-prone star?
It was exactly a year ago when Luka Doncic played for the Dallas Mavs on Christmas ... sustained an injury ... and never suited up here again.
Could history be repeating itself?
On Christmas Day 2025, it was the Mavs back in the spotlight, only this time the team's veteran leader is the oft-injured Anthony Davis, acquired from the Lakers at the last NBA trade deadline in the ridiculous Luka giveaway.
A.D. has been fine for Dallas when healthy.
But as he injured his right groin in the first half of this 1`26-116 loss at the Warriors?
Well, he's once again not healthy ... and still a subject of swirling trade rumors as Dallas works to decide if he's truly part of the foundation here now led by rookie Cooper Flagg.
Flagg made his debut in the Christmas spotlight, putting up 27 points on 13 of 21 shooting with six rebounds and five assists.
But perennial holiday star Stephen Curry scored 23 points and made a clutch 3-pointer in the final minutes to seal the deal for Golden State (16-15).
Davis missed 14 games earlier this year due to a left calf strain. Last season, Davis suffered an adductor strain in his Dallas debut and missed 18 games.
The Mavericks (12-20) are now saying that Davis was pulled from the game due to an "abundance of caution." ... the same sort of carefulness that the organization must now devote to deciding his future here.