When the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks pulled off the most shocking trade of the season, sending Luka Doncic to LA and Anthony Davis to Dallas, no one saw it coming—including Davis himself. The 10-time All-Star had no idea that a deal was in the works, making the moment even more surreal for him when he got the call.
Davis recalls his shock upon hearing the news:
“I was shocked. Like I said, I didn’t know. I was actually at home about to watch a movie with my wife and got the phone call. So I had no idea. I just sent the team a text about congratulations on the win against the Knicks, a big win.”
“And then I’m looking forward to Tuesday’s game against the Clippers as far as standing purposes. And then I found out like an hour later I was no longer with the team. So I was in shock, obviously, had no idea that it was happening. But I mean, now it’s kind of over, and I’m just getting ready to play with Dallas.”
For Davis, this was not just another trade rumor—it was reality. One moment, he was texting his teammates about the Lakers’ victory over the Knicks, and the next, he was no longer a Laker. It’s rare for a franchise cornerstone like Davis to be moved, especially after he helped the team win a championship in 2020. But in the NBA, anything can happen.
Once Davis processed the trade, his first call with Mavericks GM Nico Harrison helped set the tone for what’s next.
“Yeah. Obviously, excitement. I know Nico believes in me, what I bring to this team. I’m not gonna remember everything that we talked about out there, but we’re both extremely excited about what we can do, and I think we have a great opportunity to win championships.”
Davis also has a strong connection with Jason Kidd, who was an assistant coach with the Lakers during their 2020 championship run. Now, as the head coach in Dallas, Kidd will be looking to get the best out of AD, particularly on the defensive end. Pairing Davis with rim-protecting bigs like Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II could make Dallas a defensive powerhouse.
One of the most intriguing aspects of this trade is Davis’ new partnership with Kyrie Irving. The two have been linked before, and Davis revealed that they had previously discussed playing together.
“I’m very excited. Me and him talked about this I think in 2018 when I asked for a trade from New Orleans. He was in Boston at the time. He ended up leaving and going to Brooklyn. But we have wanted to play alongside each other for a very long time. Now we have an opportunity to do so.”
With Davis and Irving now teammates, the Mavericks will have one of the most skilled duos in the NBA. If they can stay healthy, Dallas has the potential to make a deep playoff run.
In a notable move, Davis decided to waive his $6 million trade bonus to help the Mavericks build a stronger team.
“Trying to help the team. Obviously, you always want to get better & losing a monumental piece like Luka … it’s a lot, right? So I’m just trying to do my part and help Nico and the organization on how we can continuously get better.”
This decision signals Davis’ commitment to winning. By giving up that money, he’s making it easier for the Mavericks to add pieces around him and Irving to strengthen their championship aspirations.
While the shock of the trade still lingers, Davis is ready to move forward and embrace his new role in Dallas. His defensive versatility, rebounding, and offensive skills make him an ideal fit for a Mavericks team that desperately needed an elite two-way big.
Though Dallas fans are still reeling from losing Luka, if Davis can stay healthy, he could help bring the Mavericks back to title contention.
The blockbuster trade has changed the landscape of the league, and Anthony Davis is ready for the next chapter of his career.
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