The NBA has ranked Dallas Mavericks’ power forward Anthony Davis as one of the top ten players in the Western Conference heading into the 2025-26 NBA season.
While not officially assigned a specific rank, NBA.com’s John Schuhmann includes Davis in his list of the Western Conference’s elite players, highlighting him as one of the “most accomplished two-way players of this generation.”
This list also features Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Dončić, Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant, Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, Lakers forward LeBron James, and San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama.
Davis’s defensive prowess, including his rebounding and shot-blocking, combined with an offensive game featuring strong post-up skills and expanding shooting range, contribute to his presence in these rankings.
The 6-foot-10 power forward is coming off a solid season with both the Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers, finishing the year with averages of 24.7 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks while shooting 51.6% from the field.
Unsurprisingly, Schuhmann noted that the biggest concern with Davis next season is his health, which has been a consistent concern for the big man over the past half-decade or so in the NBA.
Davis played just 51 games last season due to various injuries, including a detached retina, adductor strain, and abdominal injury that kept him out during stints in both Dallas and Los Angeles.
Since the 2018-19 season, Davis has appeared in over 70 regular-season games just once, reaching that mark during a 76-game season with the Lakers during the 2023-24 season.
Despite the injury concerns, Davis has been one of the best players in the league during his appearances, with the expectation that he will play a massive role in the Mavericks’ success next season.
Dallas will enter next season with high expectations following a productive offseason that included picking up No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg in the draft and former NBA All-Star D’Angelo Russell in free agency.
Although the Mavericks will have to stay afloat while star guard Kyrie Irving returns from a torn ACL, the belief is that this team can compete for an NBA Championship next season once the entire roster is healthy.