Why Anthony Davis Needs to Embrace the Center Role for the Mavericks to Thrive
If Anthony Davis had it his way, he’d probably spend the rest of the season parked at power forward, stretching the floor and avoiding the nightly grind in the paint. But for the Dallas Mavericks to find their footing-and maybe even make a real push this season-Davis has to commit to playing center full-time.
No more hedging. No more positional wish lists.
Just big-man basketball, the kind that makes everything click for this Mavericks team.
Let’s be clear: Davis isn’t your traditional center. He’s not a throwback bruiser who camps out in the paint and relies on brute force.
He’s the modern prototype-a 6-foot-10 hybrid with the footwork of a guard, the instincts of a wing, and the defensive presence of a rim protector. That’s not just a scouting report-it’s the result of a unique basketball journey.
Back in high school, Davis was a 6-foot-2 guard before a late growth spurt turned him into a 6-foot-10 unicorn. Those perimeter skills didn’t disappear when he added eight inches.
They evolved. And that’s part of what makes Davis so dynamic-and also why he’s reluctant to fully embrace the role of a traditional five.
Deep down, he still sees himself as a finesse player, someone who thrives facing the basket rather than banging bodies underneath it.
But here’s the reality: when Davis plays center, the Mavericks are simply better. The offense opens up.
The defense tightens. And the team starts to look like a real contender.
A Frontcourt Shift That Demands More from Davis
When Davis arrived in Dallas-after pushing for a more perimeter-oriented role in Los Angeles-he joined a frontcourt that already featured Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford. On paper, that looked like the perfect setup. Two rim-running bigs to handle the dirty work while Davis floated at the four, free to pick his spots.
And early on, that plan made sense. Davis could stretch the floor, attack mismatches, and save his body from the nightly pounding that comes with playing center. But basketball isn’t played on paper, and the Mavericks’ offense has found another gear when Davis is back in the middle of it-literally.
He may not love the physical toll of battling in the paint, but Davis at the five unlocks everything Dallas wants to do offensively. He creates space for Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg to isolate and attack.
He draws defenders away from shooters like Klay Thompson, who’s starting to heat up from deep. And he keeps opposing defenses honest with his ability to score in a variety of ways-whether it’s rolling hard to the rim, popping out for a mid-range jumper, or going to work in the post.
Offense Runs Smoother When Davis Is the Hub
Davis isn’t just a scorer-he’s a connector. His passing out of the post and in high-low sets can get easy looks for Gafford and Lively II.
His mobility forces opposing bigs to defend in space, which opens up driving lanes for slashers like Flagg and Irving. And when the offense stalls, Davis is the kind of player you can dump the ball to and trust to manufacture a bucket.
That’s a luxury not many teams have. And with Irving still working his way back, Dallas needs that kind of offensive anchor more than ever.
Right now, the Mavericks rank dead last in offensive efficiency. That’s a brutal stat for a team with this much talent.
But Davis at center gives them a chance to stabilize, to find rhythm and flow, and to keep defenses scrambling.
Defense Benefits Too-And That’s No Small Thing
It’s not just the offense that benefits. Davis is a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate for a reason.
His ability to switch onto guards, recover to the rim, and patrol the paint is elite. And with him back at the five, Dallas-already seventh in the league in opponent field goal percentage-has a chance to level up even further on that end.
His presence in the middle allows the Mavericks to be more versatile defensively. They can switch more.
They can protect the rim without sacrificing perimeter coverage. And they can survive stretches when the offense isn’t firing on all cylinders because they know Davis is anchoring things on the other end.
The Supporting Cast Is Starting to Click
The timing couldn’t be better. Cooper Flagg is coming off a monster 35-point performance against the Clippers, showing the kind of scoring punch that could change the ceiling for this team. Klay Thompson, after a slow start, is starting to look like himself again-dropping 23 points and knocking down six threes in the second half of that same game.
That’s the kind of firepower Dallas needs if they’re going to climb out of the early hole they’ve found themselves in. But it all starts with Davis. His willingness to play center full-time isn’t just a preference-it’s a necessity.
The Bottom Line
Anthony Davis may not love the grind of playing center. He may prefer the finesse of the four, the freedom to float and face up. But for this Mavericks team, he’s not just a big man-he’s the fulcrum.
If Dallas is going to find its rhythm, if they’re going to make any real noise this season, Davis has to be front and center. Literally and figuratively.
The Mavericks don’t need him to be who he was. They need him to be who he is-a dominant, modern center who can do it all.
And when he embraces that, Dallas becomes a different kind of problem.