Anthony Davis Criticizes Lakers Over Luka Doncic Trade Handling

Davis says he deserved more respect after 6 years with the team and a championship.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 7:21pm

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A conceptual illustration in the cubist style, featuring fragmented and overlapping geometric shapes in shades of blue, orange, and gray, representing the complex dynamics of a basketball trade between two teams.The high-profile trade between the Lakers and Mavericks is still generating controversy, with Davis' comments highlighting the importance of communication and respect between players and teams.Chicago Today

Anthony Davis criticized the Los Angeles Lakers for how they handled his trade to the Dallas Mavericks for Luka Doncic, saying he was given no prior notice. Davis said he deserved more respect after spending six years with the team and winning a championship.

Why it matters

The trade that sent Davis from the Lakers to the Mavericks in exchange for Doncic is still making headlines, especially after Davis shared his frustration with how the move was communicated to him.

The details

Davis made it clear that his issue was not the trade itself, but the lack of communication from the Lakers before the deal became official. He said he was caught off guard and couldn't understand why the team didn't give him any notice or have a conversation with him about the potential move.

  • The call from the Lakers front office informing Davis of the trade came just minutes before the deal was announced.

The players

Anthony Davis

A 33-year-old veteran center who spent six seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning a championship, before being traded to the Dallas Mavericks in a deal that also sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers.

Luka Doncic

The star player acquired by the Lakers in the trade with the Mavericks, who had a dominant season leading the NBA in scoring with 33.5 points per game before being sidelined by a hamstring injury.

Rob Pelinka

The general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers who called Davis to inform him of the trade just minutes before it was announced.

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What they’re saying

“Look, from the business standpoint, I can't be mad, but like, why? I couldn't understand it. Nobody told me nothing. Nobody said a thing to me. So you just catch me off guard like, yeah, you traded to Dallas. That's what I couldn't get over it, and I still can't get over it. I think I deserve much more respect than that.”

— Anthony Davis, NBA Player

What’s next

After the trade, Davis played 29 games with the Dallas Mavericks before being traded again to the Washington Wizards ahead of the February 2026 deadline.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the challenges players can face when being traded, even after years of service and success with a team. Davis felt he deserved more communication and respect from the Lakers organization during the process.