If there’s any ill will from Anthony Davis over his trade from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Dallas Mavericks, he’s not saying so in public.
Davis addressed the blockbuster trade publicly on Monday for the first time since it was reported Saturday night that he was being dealt to the Mavericks in exchange for All-NBA guard Luka Dončić. He did so via a social media post reflecting on his championship with the Lakers with a look ahead to his next stop in Dallas, his third in the NBA since joining the league with the New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans in 2012.
“6 years ago, I came here with the vision to win a championship, and I will never forget the moment we did!” Davis wrote. “The business of basketball is a business just like all other businesses… I am grateful to the city where my first ring came from, grew my family and friendships and I will always have a home here. My family and I thank everyone who made this place home and we are still thinking of those that lost their homes in the fires.
To my teammates: our friendships go beyond a locker room and a jersey…
LA will always have a special place in my heart.
Every great story has an exciting next chapter…
Davis’ message stood in contrast to Dončić’s farewell note to Dallas, which struck a similar tone, but featured two stark differences.
Dončić wrote fondly of his time in Dallas while touting the city as “a special place” and Mavericks fans as “special fans.” But he made no direct mention of the Mavericks franchise that had just dealt him in his prime in one of the most stunning trades in sports history. He also made no mention of Los Angeles or the Lakers.
Davis, meanwhile, seems more at peace with his time with the Lakers. He acknowledged “the business of basketball” and posted a highlight on Instagram of his time time with the Lakers including the 2020 NBA championship he won alongside LeBron James.
Dončić’s time in Dallas, by contrast, was cut shockingly short and without a championship ring. While he declined to publicly criticize the Mavericks for the deal, his dad didn’t hold back in comments to Slovenian media on Sunday.
Dončić joins the Lakers while nursing a calf injury that’s sidelined him since December, and the timeline for his return to the court and his Lakers debut is unclear. It may be a while before he faces media and questions about his opinions on the trade.
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