{"id":706417,"date":"2026-04-09T06:15:43","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T06:15:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/706417\/"},"modified":"2026-04-09T06:15:43","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T06:15:43","slug":"anthony-davis-gets-candid-on-villain-status-in-new-orleans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/706417\/","title":{"rendered":"Anthony Davis gets candid on villain status in New Orleans"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nearly a decade removed from his exit, Washington Wizards’ Anthony Davis revealed a lot about his time<\/a> with the New Orleans Pelicans<\/a>. From the number one overall pick in the 2012 draft to becoming a villain amidst a handful of trying years, Davis opened up about the backlash he received after demaning the Pelicans front office to improve its roster. Telling his story alongside Golden State Warriors veteran Draymond Green.<\/p>\n

Davis says speaking out led to Pelicans fans turning on him<\/a> once the writing was on the wall that he was heading out, he said, per The Draymond Green Show.<\/p>\n

\u201cI genuinely want to win. So now, because I want to win, I’m considered a villain to this team,\u201d Davis said. \u201cAnd to this fanbase. To this day, I go back, and they still boo me [in New Orleans].\u201d<\/p>\n

To which Green pointed at the lack of success the Pelicans have seen since Davis left.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s why they still losing,\u201d Green said. \u201cYou don\u2019t boo the best player in your franchise history, you appreciate em.\u201d<\/p>\n

Davis would go onto win his first championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020.<\/p>\n

Why Anthony Davis refuses potential Pelicans reunion\"PelicansJayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

On the subject of a potential return to the team that drafted him, Wizards’ Anthony Davis says a Pelicans reunion is out<\/a> of the question. While Davis ranked his top candidates for MVP<\/a>, he also had time to talk about why he’ll never wear a Pelicans uniform again.<\/p>\n

Davis revealed how the final straw from the Pelicans led to him never wanting to return to play for New Orleans again.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I went back, I did not get a tribute, and that was the final straw. Never got a tribute,\u201d Davis said. \u201cI told (Gayle) Benson right before the deadline when I was asking for a trade\u2026 I told her, \u2018This might not be the end, though. Later on in my career, who knows if I was to come back and we try to do something special as I’m older\u2026’ When I went back that first game and got no tribute, I said \u2018Oh, that door is closed.’\u201d<\/p>\n

Davis was traded to the Wizards ahead of this year’s deadline.<\/p>\n

Nearly a decade removed from his exit, Washington Wizards’ Anthony Davis revealed a lot about his time with the New Orleans Pelicans. From the number one overall pick in the 2012 draft to becoming a villain amidst a handful of trying years, Davis opened up about the backlash he received after demaning the Pelicans front office to improve its roster.<\/p>\n