Brutal reality Mavericks fans must accept about Anthony Davis is undeniable

The Dallas Mavericks suffered a whopping 125-92 defeat against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. 2024 Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama destroyed Dallas, as he recorded a double-double with 40 points and 15 rebounds. He was unstoppable from the field, torching the Mavs from every angle.

Anthony Davis, too, had a double-double, as he finished the game with 22 points and 13 rebounds. He did a great job working both ends of the court. Defensively, Davis tallied two steals and one block. He did, however, struggle making his shots, as he shot 31.8 percent from the court. This was a major difference from Davis' final game last season, when he scored 40 points on 55.2 percent shooting.

Mavs fans, though, shouldn't worry about Davis' shooting slump. His first day numbers prove he is a two-way player who can fight on both ends of the court. The issue is that Davis isn't an everyday scorer or an offensive engine. He isn't like Wembanyama, who will score from various angles or make things difficult for his opponents at all times. Davis is also not Luka Doncic, a player Dallas could rely on to score and take over games when needed.

Dallas lacks a stone-cold killer

If you remember, the Mavericks and Nico Harrison traded Luka Doncic because they felt he lacked the defensive intangibles to help Dallas dominate at the next level and had concerns about his conditioning. They believed that Davis had the defensive skills to help Harrison's defensive motto become a reality. Yet, Dallas' philosophy may need to be reexamined.

Last season, the NBA had 55 players score 40 points or more in a game. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic dominated the league. They had 10 or more games in which they scored 40 points or more. Gilgeous-Alexander led the league with 13 40-point performances. Doncic, on the other hand, tied for seventh on the list, with four 40-point games.

This is the reality the NBA has become. Every team needs an everyday player who is capable of taking over the game and scoring at a high rate. This is where players like Jokic, Gilgeous-Alexander, and Giannis Antetokounmpo come into play. The Mavs had an everyday player in Doncic, someone who could score from every angle and take over games when needed.

If you recall, Doncic proved his value during the 2024 NBA Playoffs. He was the key player who helped the Mavericks advance to the NBA Finals. He averaged 28.9 points per game during the Finals run and single-handedly took over the game when needed. For example, Doncic hit the game-winning shot against the Minnesota Timberwolves during Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. It was his aggressive style and play that helped Dallas get over their playoff woes.

It's no wonder Doncic is predicted to win MVP this season. Last month, Bill Simmons jumped on his weekly podcast to forecast this coming year. One thing he mentioned was Doncic's chances of winning MVP. He stated that the former Maverick could be on a revenge tour this season, making him the favorite to win the award.

Doncic proved his case Tuesday, when he scored 43 points in the Los Angeles Lakers' first game of the season. Dallas can only hope his revenge tour doesn't come true, as they hope to make Harrison's vision a reality. The Mavs will look to bounce back on Friday when they host the Washington Wizards. Fans can only hope the team can begin the season on a good note.