The Los Angeles Lakers’ 140–126 win over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night didn’t just push them to 11–4—it widened the gap between two franchises forever linked by the blockbuster deal that sent Luka Dončić to Los Angeles and brought Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks. A new viral statistic made that divide impossible to ignore.

A graphic posted by ClutchPoints on X formerly known as Twitter revealed that Deandre Ayton—who joined the Lakers as a buyout signing—has logged more total minutes this season than Davis, the supposed centerpiece of Dallas’ post-Dončić era. Through 14 games, Ayton has played 425 minutes. Davis? Just 415 minutes across 14 appearances since the February trade.

Ayton’s Durability Highlights Dallas’ Problem

Ayton has quietly become one of Los Angeles’ most reliable pieces. The 27-year-old is averaging 16.5 points and 8.8 rebounds while shooting a career-best 69.9% from the field in 30.4 minutes per game. His latest performance—20 points, 14 rebounds, and 10-for-13 shooting against Utah—reinforced how seamlessly he has meshed with Dončić’s playmaking.

Availability has been Ayton’s biggest advantage over Davis and the foundation of the comparison that has dominated NBA discussion. For the Lakers, Ayton has been stable, productive, and present.

For the Mavericks, Davis has been the opposite.

Davis’ Tenure Clouded by Injuries and Internal Turbulence

The 32-year-old has appeared in only five games this season and hasn’t played since Oct. 29, when a calf strain forced him out of Dallas’ win over the Indiana Pacers after just seven minutes. He averaged 20.8 points and 10.2 rebounds in those contests, but production has taken a backseat to his availability issues.

Dallas’ season has unraveled during his absence. After Wednesday night’s heartbreaking loss to former Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks, the team dropped to 4–12, sinking further in a crowded Western Conference.

Internally, the franchise has been just as chaotic. Last week, team governor Patrick Dumont fired general manager Nico Harrison, sparking widespread speculation that the organization could explore moving Davis before the deadline.

But on Wednesday, minority owner Mark Cuban attempted to slam the door shut on that idea.

“We won’t. We want to try to win,” Cuban told The Athletic when asked whether Dallas planned to trade Davis.

Cuban added that while he now serves as “an adviser” to Dumont, the Sands Corporation executive “makes all the final decisions.” A Mavericks team source echoed that structure, confirming Dumont holds ultimate authority as the team navigates a shaky start and a roster stuck between contention and retooling.

Still, the disconnect is hard to ignore. Davis hasn’t been available. Dallas keeps losing. And the trade chatter has already taken root because the on-court trajectory hasn’t matched the front office’s public optimism.

Luka Soars in LA While Dallas Searches for Answers

Meanwhile, Dončić has turned the Lakers into a legitimate threat again. He’s averaging 34.6 points, 9.0 assists, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game, anchoring Los Angeles to the No. 4 seed and drawing early MVP consideration. His pairing with Ayton has looked effortless, productive, and sustainable—everything Dallas hoped for when it bet its future on Davis.

That’s why the Ayton–Davis comparison isn’t just a viral stat. It’s a reminder of the widening gap between what the Mavericks imagined and what has actually unfolded. Los Angeles made a gamble that’s paying off nightly. Dallas made a gamble that hasn’t taken the floor in weeks.

And until Davis returns—and produces—the harsh reality won’t change.