Dallas Mavericks’ Anthony Davis rejects Luka Doncic trade shock: “I just don’t believe it”

Anthony Davis has firmly rejected the secrecy of his trade with Luka Doncic which surprised the whole NBA world. Doncic has departed from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Davis in a blockbuster trade and weeks after, it has still been the talk of the town. The move sent shockwaves through the NBA world, especially given Doncic’s status as the Mavs’ franchise player and his role in leading them to the NBA Finals last season. While reports suggest the Luka Doncic trade was kept tightly under wraps, with only Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison and Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka being aware, Anthony Davis isn’t buying it.“Everybody’s saying nobody knew and all this other s**t. I just don’t believe it,” Davis told Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times.From an outsider’s perspective, the secrecy makes sense. If word had leaked that Doncic was available, teams across the league would have swarmed Dallas with offers, potentially complicating negotiations. However, Davis has been skeptical as he suggested that more people may have been aware than initially thought.Still, Davis is ready to move on and focused on helping the Mavericks compete for a championship once he returns from injury.“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 st lasted that night when it was just a shock,”** Davis said.Aside from basketball, Davis also acknowledged the personal adjustments he’s making as he settles into his new home.“I moved on. I got a wife and kids to worry about, you know what I’m saying? And I’m figuring out how I’m going to get them to Dallas and get adjusted to that,” he added.Davis’ first game back in LA since the trade was emotional, even though he was sidelined with a groin injury. The Lakers honored him with a tribute video, celebrating his time in purple and gold.“If I was playing, it would have been a little bit more emotional for me,” Davis admitted. “Obviously, it was emotional for the time I had here. But the video was fire! The love from the crowd was fire! The ovation was fire!”After grateful for the tribute, Davis admitted he hadn’t fully processed the moment. “I don’t know. I haven’t processed it. I might have to watch it again. I’m just in the midst of a game. I’m trying to win a basketball game. So, I couldn’t really get a chance to like, really, dissect the video and feel what I wanted to feel. But that’s the first time I had that, and I think that it was really dope for the Lakers to do, obviously, and I’m honored and appreciative for them even considering to do that for me.”Los Angeles Lakers team governor Jeanie Buss recently shared that the franchise wasn’t actively shopping Davis before the trade materialized.“When the opportunity came up, we were not looking to move Anthony Davis,” Buss said on The Rich Eisen Show. “He was our rock-solid player, so we had to give up a lot to get Luka.”Also Read: Why Did Los Angeles Lakers Tribute Video Hit Anthony Davis So Hard? His Reaction Says It AllReports indicate that Lakers GM Pelinka and Mavs GM Harrison initiated serious trade talks over coffee on January 7. Given Davis’ injury history and the chance to acquire a generational talent like Doncic, the Lakers ultimately decided it was a deal they couldn’t pass up.