Anthony Davis on the letter he received in Dallas that relieved the pressure off of him: "The boos you're going to hear are not for you"

Last year, the NBA world was stunned after the Dallas Mavericks dealt Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, marking the end of the Slovenian’s eight-year stint with the team.

At the time of the trade, Doncic was a 25-year-old superstar whose prime had barely begun. He already had five All-Star selections and five All-NBA First Team nods under his belt and was coming off his first Finals appearance.

In any rational scenario, an organization holds onto its franchise cornerstone – it doesn’t trade him away. However, the Mavericks‘ front office defied this expectation, shipping Doncic in the dead of the night in early February.

Davis was not sure what to expect in the aftermath. After all, such moves come but once in a lifetime – if not at all. Luckily, as he was just settling into his new reality, the city of Dallas reassured him through an honest and anonymous letter.

Mavs fans were mad at the organization

The Mavericks fanbase had a clear figure to blame for the trade: general manager Nico Harrison. Although he could not have made the move without the green light of the team owners and head coach Jason Kidd, the fingers ultimately pointed to him.

He believed that with Doncic out and Davis on the roster, the Mavericks would bolster their defense. And the fans were not happy. After the trade, they made their call loud and clear: fire Nico Harrison.

Davis was still a superstar in his own right, with a championship, 10 All-Star selections and eight All-Defensive team nods. He was still capable of delivering and was eager to embrace his new squad.

However, from Davis’ lenses, watching a passionate fanbase withdraw its loyalty in real time and take out its frustration on a storied organization was a lot of pressure.

While Davis was staying at Hotel Crescent Court in Dallas, one fan put his mind at ease with a letter, assuring him that the wrath they would unleash would not be aimed at him. He recalled this instance on “The Draymond Green Show.”

“I picked it up with some macaroons on the door handle… I open the door, and I get the letter, and it read, ‘Dear AD, hope you’re liking your time in Dallas,'” he said. “Here in Dallas, we love Dirk [Nowitzki], barbecue, Luka, and the Cowboys. But what we love more than all of that is championships. The boos you’re going to hear are not for you.'”

AD tried his best

Ultimately, the front office heard the city’s calls and axed Harrison in November 2025. From there, the fans tried to focus on their future, while Davis gradually found his footing in his role.

Davis tried his best to help bring back the winning culture to Dallas, but injuries forced him to miss a significant amount of time. He only played 29 games, averaging 20.2 points on 49.2 percent shooting from the field, 10.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.8 blocks.

Despite understanding Dallas’s vision, Davis said he can never forget how the Lakers handled his trade.

“Nobody said a thing to me…catching me off guard. That’s what I couldn’t get over, and I still couldn’t get over,” he said. “I think I deserved much more respect.”

The Mavericks failed to see the full potential of an AD-Cooper Flagg duo. Now, the future of the franchise rests on the 19-year-old’s shoulders, while the Lakers continue to thrive with Doncic.

As for the 33-year-old Davis, he is looking to add more to his resume with the Wizards. He is expected to suit up next season.

This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Apr 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Anthony Davis on the letter he received in Dallas that relieved the pressure off of him: “The boos you’re going to hear are not for you”

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