Image Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Why Will Anthony Davis Wear Protective Eyewear for the Rest of His NBA Career?

Image Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Anthony Davis has always been defined by two things, one his extraordinary talent and second his fragile health. Now, at 32, the Dallas Mavericks big man has added a permanent tool to his identity, which are the protective goggles.

This decision is far from a style or nostalgia for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s era. After undergoing surgery in July 2025 to repair a detached retina, Anthony Davis confirmed at the Dallas Mavericks media day that doctors have mandated he wore protective eyewear for the remainder of his career.

The injury was the result of repeated blows to the face and eyes during the NBA 2024–25 season, including a serious incident against the Toronto Raptors when his left eye took direct contact on a block attempt.

Anthony Davis will wear protective eyewear for the rest of his career after his recent eye injury, per @TheSteinLine pic.twitter.com/sgi8b6FyoL
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) September 29, 2025

While Anthony Davis had resisted goggles in the past, he wore them briefly in high school and during the Lakers’ 2020 title run. He often admitted he disliked the look. But the detached retina changed everything. Without protection, the risk of permanent vision loss is too great.

A detached retina is not a routine basketball injury. It’s a condition that can end a career, or worse, impair vision for life. For Anthony Davis, the surgery was successful, but the long-term risk still remains. Doctors have been clear that protective eyewear is no longer optional. This is why Davis has committed to wearing goggles every time he steps on the floor.

Anthony Davis Joins Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

The move places him in a lineage of NBA big men who turned the eyewear their identity. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wore goggles after repeated eye injuries, while Horace Grant and Amar’e Stoudemire did the same in later eras.

Anthony Davis remains one of the league’s premier two-way players when healthy, averaging 24.7 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks last season. For a Dallas Mavericks team built around rookie Cooper Flagg and a recovering Kyrie Irving, Davis is the veteran anchor.