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Anthony Davis of the Dallas Mavericks prepares to shoot a free throw.
Dallas Mavericks star Anthony Davis isn’t letting emotions get in the way of trying to chalk up a much-needed win when he will face his former team Los Angeles Lakers for the first time on Wednesday since the seismic trade in February.
“No emotions,” Davis told reporters about the highly-anticipated matchup following their 135-104 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.
Davis’ availability for that game against his former team though is in doubt as he appeared bothered by his left knee in the first half against the Clippers. Then in the second half, he grabbed his stomach multiple times.
However, Davis, who finished with 27 points, nine rebounds and six turnovers in the Mavericks’ second straight loss, quickly dismissed the notion that he was injured.
“I’m fine,” he told reporters when asked about those anxious moments for the Mavericks fans.
The 32-year-old Davis missed six weeks after suffering a left adductor strain during his Mavericks debut on Feb. 8. He will have full three days to prepare for the Lakers’ visit.
‘Handled it Like a Champion’
Davis was the centerpiece of the Luka Dončić trade that shocked the NBA world and was mourned by the Mavericks fans.
“He’s handled it like a champion,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said of Davis on the initial shock of the trade. “Trades aren’t easy, especially midseason. I think he’s done everything we’ve asked him. He’s played at a high level when he’s been able to be on the court. Unfortunately, that injury against Houston set him back but I think he’s excited to be a Mav and we truly believe he’s going to help us win a championship.”
Davis is averaging 20.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.7 blocks for the Mavericks primarily playing as a power forward, his preferred position. The Mavericks are 5-2 with him in the lineup.
Anthony Davis Didn’t Buy Secrecy of The Trade
Davis was in street clothes when the Mavericks visited the Lakers on Feb. 25, the two teams’ first meeting since the trade. But he let his hair down and poured out his emotions, calling out unnamed people in the Lakers organization.
“Everybody’s saying nobody knew and all this other [expletive],” Davis told the Los Angeles Times after the Lakers beat the Mavericks in their first meeting since the trade. “I just don’t believe it. But, hey man, I’m past that. I’m ready to move forward with Dallas, try to get a championship there with these guys. First off, getting back on the floor and get ready to compete. All the emotions, that [expletive] lasted that night when it was just a shock.”
Davis revealed to LA Times it was Rob Pelinka, the Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager, who delivered him the news via phone call.
FaceTime Call With LeBron
According to multiple reports, it was only team owner Jeanie Buss and Pelinka at the Lakers organization who knew about the trade before it was finalized. On the other side, it was only Nico Harrison, Pelinka’s counterpart at Mavericks, and team governor Patrick Dumont who were privy to the trade discussions.
Davis did not believe this was the case.
LeBron James was having a late dinner with his family in a restaurant in New York following their big win over the Knicks earlier that night.
“When it happened, I honestly didn’t know [expletive],” Davis told LA Times. “He’s been my running mate for six years … so the first thing I wanted to do was call him. … Obviously, I know there are going to be a lot of political things in the front office when they talk to me.
“The front office has to do what it has to do and obviously they’re going to do what’s best for the organization. So I don’t know if I ever got the ‘real’ about any of it. I don’t know what’s true or what’s not, coming from upstairs. So, my thing is I’m gonna go to my counterpart who I’ve been running with and see what’s going on, get his reaction and that’s all it was. We had a conversation. That was it.”