Anthony Davis Vents About Sudden Lakers Trade

The 10-time All-Star big man felt disrespected by how the Lakers handled his departure to the Dallas Mavericks.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 3:49am

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting overlapping basketball court scenes and player silhouettes in a variety of vibrant colors, conceptually representing the ups and downs of Anthony Davis' professional career.A cubist interpretation of Anthony Davis' tumultuous NBA journey, from championship glory to unexpected trades.Los Angeles Today

In a recent podcast appearance, Anthony Davis expressed frustration over how the Los Angeles Lakers traded him to the Dallas Mavericks last year. Davis said he was caught off guard by the deal and felt he deserved more respect and communication from the organization after helping the team win a championship.

Why it matters

Davis was a key part of the Lakers' 2020 NBA title team, but his partnership with LeBron James had grown stale by last season. The trade to Dallas has not worked out well, with Davis dealing with injuries and the Mavericks struggling to make the playoffs. However, the arrival of Luka Doncic in Los Angeles has given the Lakers renewed hope for the future.

The details

In a recent appearance on "The Draymond Green Show", Davis recalled the night he found out about the trade. He said his agent Rich Paul called him and simply stated he had been traded to the Mavericks, leaving Davis shocked and confused. Davis felt the Lakers should have communicated with him more about the potential deal instead of surprising him with the news.

  • The trade between the Lakers and Mavericks happened around 14 months ago.
  • Davis has only played in 20 games this season due to various injuries.

The players

Anthony Davis

A 10-time NBA All-Star who helped the Lakers win the 2020 championship, but was traded to the Dallas Mavericks last year in a deal that brought Luka Doncic to Los Angeles.

Rich Paul

Davis' agent, who informed him of the trade to the Mavericks.

LeBron James

Davis' former teammate with the Lakers, with whom he won the 2020 NBA title.

Luka Doncic

The star player the Lakers acquired in the trade that sent Davis to the Mavericks, giving the Lakers renewed hope for the future.

Kyrie Irving

The Mavericks guard who tore his ACL shortly after the Davis trade, further complicating things for Dallas.

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What they’re saying

“So when he [Rich Paul] said 'traded to Dallas', I was like, 'Get the [expletive] out of here.' And I said, 'Who the [expletive] they going to trade me for? Luka?' Who else can you trade me for on that team?' Mind you, they just went to the Finals.”

— Anthony Davis, NBA Player

“From the business standpoint, I can't be mad. But, why? I just couldn't fathom, I couldn't understand it. And nobody told me nothing. Nobody said a thing to me. So you just catch me off guard, like, yeah, 'You traded to Dallas.'”

— Anthony Davis, NBA Player

What’s next

The Lakers will look to build around Luka Doncic and see if they can return to championship contention in the coming seasons.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the harsh realities of the NBA business, where even star players can be traded without much warning or communication. Davis felt disrespected by the Lakers, but the trade has not worked out well for the Mavericks either, as Davis and Kyrie Irving have both dealt with significant injuries.