“I still think I deserved much more”: Anthony Davis admits lingering pain after Los Angeles Lakers’ trade to secure Luka Doncic

Anthony Davis is still not moving on from the pain that reshaped his career overnight. It has been over a year since the trade that sent him from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Luka Doncic, but for Davis, the emotions have not settled.

It was not just the deal itself. It was how it occurred. After six seasons in Los Angeles, including a championship run, Davis expected something more personal. Instead, the news reached him in a way that felt distant.

Anthony Davis is still hurting after the Lakers’ Luka Doncic deal

Anthony Davis recalled the moment with a mix of disbelief and frustration. Speaking on “The Draymond Green Show,” he described how the call came through his agent, Rich Paul. “So I'm like, what up, Rich? He's like, man, they just traded you to Dallas. And I'm like, man, shut up. I said, who the f*** they gonna trade me for, Luka? Like, I was just saying, like, who else can you trade me for on that team.”

For Davis, the silence from the organization stood out more than the trade itself. “I still think I deserved much more respect than that,” he said. “All the time I’ve been here. S***, I was there six years. We won a championship.”

Those years included a title alongside LeBron James in 2020, a stretch where Davis anchored the team on both ends of the floor. That history, in his view, deserved acknowledgment. Instead, the transition felt abrupt.

The move became one of the most talked-about deals in recent memory. While Doncic’s arrival shifted the Lakers’ future, Davis’ path turned uncertain. Injuries limited his time in Dallas, and another move eventually sent him to the Washington Wizards. It has been a winding road since.

Anthony Davis makes candid admission on Lakers' championship hope amid Luka Doncic's absence

Despite the personal frustration, Davis has continued to watch the league closely. His perspective now comes from the outside, and it has changed with time. In the same conversation, he assessed the current contenders, starting with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Boston Celtics.

“Obviously, OKC, they’re the champs, a well-oiled machine,” he said. “They have to be the favorites no matter what happens.” He also pointed to Boston’s resilience, crediting players like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown for keeping the team in the mix.

There was a time when the Lakers sat firmly in that group. Davis admitted as much. “I had the Lakers until this Luka and Austin thing happened. That’s just tough on them.” Injuries to Doncic and Austin Reaves have altered the outlook, leaving the team searching for rhythm at a critical stage.

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