As the Dallas Mavericks prepare to face the Los Angeles Lakers for the first time since their blockbuster trade, emotions are running high, especially for Lakers head coach JJ Redick. In his pregame press conference, Redick took a moment to give a heartfelt tribute to Anthony Davis, the former face of the franchise, who was sent to Dallas as part of the deal that brought Luka Doncic to L.A.
“I miss being around him every day. He’s a fantastic human being and a wonderful teammate.”
“For a guy who’s a superstar, who’s been in the Olympics, won the Finals, been All-NBA, and probably had a decent amount of skepticism with a coach who’s never coached before—a former podcaster, if you will.”
“For him to just accept me and be open to a relationship and coaching was big time. It speaks a lot to who he is as a person. I certainly miss him as a player, but certain inside jokes, he’s just a pleasure to be around every day.”
Davis was the heart of the Lakers for years, anchoring both the offense and defense while remaining a superstar. Under Redick, the Lakers made it a priority to build the offense around him, ensuring that Davis had the freedom to dominate inside while still impacting the game on the perimeter.
Even though LeBron James remained the face of the franchise, it was Davis who often carried the team on both ends of the floor.
The trade that sent him to Dallas was as shocking as it was monumental. Despite the Lakers’ struggles this season, few expected them to part ways with their best player. Davis himself was stunned by the move, and though he made an immediate impact in his Mavericks debut, scoring efficiently and controlling the paint, an unfortunate injury in the second half of that game derailed his momentum.
The Mavericks later confirmed that Davis would be out for at least a month, a massive blow to their championship aspirations.
With the Mavericks visiting Crypto.com Arena for the first time since the trade, the Lakers will undoubtedly pay tribute to Davis with a special video recognizing his contributions to the franchise.
Fans will also see a tribute to Max Christie, who was sent to Dallas in the deal and has had an excellent start to his career with the Mavericks. While Davis is unable to play in the game, their presence will be felt throughout the night.
On the other side, Luka Doncic will be suiting up with a point to prove. Reports suggest he is highly motivated for this game, particularly after feeling disrespected by the way the Mavericks handled his departure.
With Doncic embracing his new role alongside LeBron James, the Lakers have fully moved on from the Anthony Davis era. Still, for Redick and many in the organization, the departure of Davis represents more than just a trade—it’s the end of a significant chapter in Lakers history.
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