{"id":706373,"date":"2026-04-09T04:55:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T04:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/706373\/"},"modified":"2026-04-09T04:55:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T04:55:00","slug":"from-la-to-dallas-to-washington-anthony-davis-still-shocked-after-trade-for-luka-doncic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/706373\/","title":{"rendered":"From LA to Dallas to Washington, Anthony Davis still shocked after trade for Luka Doncic"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"An<\/p>\n

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Anthony Davis dunks over Mitchell Robinson, Image 2 shows Anthony Davis celebrates a dunk during game six of the 2023 NBA playoffs, Image 3 shows Washington Wizards forward Anthony Davis looks on during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets<\/p>\n

Anthony Davis revealed everything during his nearly two-hour appearance on the Draymond Green Show<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The former Lakers champion \u2014 now with the Wizards<\/a> \u2014 pulled back the curtain on his 15-year NBA career and all the shocking twists<\/a> and turns along the way.<\/p>\n

Part reflection, part therapy session, the conversation started with Davis\u2019 new hit prank show on TBS, \u201cFoul Play with Anthony Davis.\u201d Green asked the big man why he chose him to prank in the opening episode.<\/p>\n

\"Anthony<\/p>\n

Anthony Davis celebrates as he dunks over New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson. AP<\/p>\n

Davis revealed the original idea was to prank Bronny James Jr. and that the plan made its way through through Rich Paul and LeBron James. Davis said it was LeBron\u2019s idea to prank Green instead, believing that Green\u2019s authentic reaction would be better for television.<\/p>\n

It was. Davis knew it. LeBron definitely knew it.<\/p>\n

The topic then turned to revisiting the 2020 championship run inside the Walt Disney World bubble, Davis\u2019 voice shifted.<\/p>\n

That title, he said, remains the hardest thing he\u2019s ever done in basketball.<\/p>\n

Isolation. Pressure. Silence. No fans to feed off. No escape from the grind.<\/p>\n

And when it ended, there was no release.<\/p>\n

No parade in Los Angeles. No confetti falling down Figueroa. No victory lap across late-night television circuits and L.A. sporting events.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wish I had that,\u201d Davis admitted, the words carrying more weight than the ring itself. The absence of those things that typically come with a title still fuels Davis to this day.<\/p>\n

\"Anthony<\/p>\n

Anthony Davis celebrates after a dunk. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con<\/p>\n

Davis also revisited his departure from the Pelicans.<\/p>\n

He called it \u201ca bad breakup.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said he was open to one day returning to New Orleans but that after the organization didn\u2019t give him a tribute video when he returned for his first game as an opponent with the Lakers, that belief changed in him. For a player who gave years to a franchise, that silence cut deeper than boos.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was my final straw,\u201d he said, almost matter-of-fact.<\/p>\n

Then came the story that still doesn\u2019t feel real.<\/p>\n

Davis described the night that shocked the NBA world<\/a>. When he was traded after midnight eastern time for Luka Doncic.<\/p>\n

He said he was half-asleep in bed alongside his wife watching a movie. Rob Pelinka called. He ignored it. By the time he walked downstairs to return Rich Paul\u2019s call, the news had already reached his own kitchen. His chef told him he was being traded to the Mavericks.<\/p>\n

At first, Davis thought he was going to join forces with Doncic, a player he always admired and believed would unlock parts of his game that nobody had ever seen before.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always told people I wanted to play with him,\u201d said Davis. \u201cHe was the next player that could be the closest to LeBron, was Luka, he had the height, he could pass, he could score, all that.\u201d<\/p>\n

But then he spoke to Paul, his agent, and was told he was being traded for Luka Doncic.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought it was a joke,\u201d Davis said. \u201cI thought I was on my own show.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Anthony<\/p>\n

Anthony Davis began his NBA career with the New Orleans Pelicans. Getty Images<\/p>\n

The irony wasn\u2019t lost on him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was in shock. I was generally in shock. I couldn\u2019t understand why this was happening,\u201d said Davis who still harbors disappointment that he wasn\u2019t notified of the trade sooner. \u201cI think I deserved more respect than that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The aftermath was surreal.<\/p>\n

Davis shared that days later, his first night in a Dallas hotel room before his first game with the Mavericks, he received an anonymous note under his door with macarons on the side. A message that read like both a warning and a welcome.<\/p>\n

\u201cDear AD, I hope you\u2019re liking your time in Dallas. Here in Dallas we love Dirk [Nowitzki], BBQ, the Cowboys, and Luka [Doncic]. What we love more than all of that is championships. The boos you\u2019re going to hear, are not for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

His time in Dallas never had a chance to breathe.<\/p>\n

Injuries robbed him and Kyrie Irving of anything resembling what former Mavericks\u2019 GM Nico Harrison saw when he made the trade. They only played one half together. Harrison was fired, Davis was traded and the vision never materialized.<\/p>\n

His first reaction to landing in Washington?<\/p>\n

\u201cDamn, Washington?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Washington<\/p>\n

Washington Wizards forward Anthony Davis looks on during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

It was honest and real.<\/p>\n

Now, Davis talks about his excitement to build something in the nation\u2019s capital alongside Trae Young and a young core.<\/p>\n

Before the conversation ended, Davis rattled off his MVP ballot for this season \u2014 Victor Wembanyama at the top, followed by Nikola Joki\u0107, Jaylen Brown, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Doncic. A list that raised eyebrows.<\/p>\n

Just like everything else he said.<\/p>\n

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