Anthony Davis Says Door is 'Closed' on Return to New Orleans

The former Pelicans star reflects on his departure and relationship with the team's owner.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 6:54pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a basketball game or match, with sharp, overlapping planes of navy, green, and red, conceptually representing the fractured relationship between a player and his former team.A cubist interpretation of the complex relationship between a star player and his former team, as Anthony Davis reflects on the 'closed door' of a potential return to New Orleans.New Orleans Today

In a recent interview, NBA star Anthony Davis stated that the door is 'closed' on a potential return to the New Orleans Pelicans, the team that drafted him in 2012. Davis, who was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2019, explained that he had previously left the door open for a future reunion with the Pelicans, but after receiving no tribute during his first game back in New Orleans, he realized that chapter of his career is over.

Why it matters

Davis' comments provide insight into the complex relationship between star players and the teams that draft them. His departure from New Orleans was contentious, and the lack of a tribute during his return suggests lingering tensions between Davis and the Pelicans organization. This story highlights the challenges NBA teams face in retaining their homegrown talent, especially when star players request trades.

The details

In the interview, Davis reflected on his time with the Pelicans, noting that he had told the team's owner, Gayle Benson, that he wanted to be traded before the 2019 deadline. Despite the acrimonious departure, Davis said he had left the door open for a potential return to New Orleans later in his career. However, when he returned to play against the Pelicans for the first time and received no tribute, Davis realized that the door was 'closed' on a reunion.

  • In 2019, Davis was traded from the New Orleans Pelicans to the Los Angeles Lakers.
  • Davis played his first game back in New Orleans as a member of the Lakers.

The players

Anthony Davis

An NBA star who was drafted by the New Orleans Pelicans in 2012 and played for the team until being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2019.

Gayle Benson

The owner of the New Orleans Pelicans, with whom Davis discussed his desire to be traded from the team.

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What they’re saying

“You know how it always goes like you know oh you get drafted to a team and then when you're done it's like damn towards the end of career I might want to go back… I've always had that mindset and I told Miss Benson when the trade happened, before the deadline to ask for a trade I told her look, Miss B, I want to get out of here, these are the reasons, whatever.”

— Anthony Davis

“That door is closed.”

— Anthony Davis

The takeaway

Anthony Davis' comments highlight the complex relationship between star players and the teams that draft them. His departure from New Orleans was contentious, and the lack of a tribute during his return suggests lingering tensions between Davis and the Pelicans organization. This story underscores the challenges NBA teams face in retaining their homegrown talent, especially when star players request trades.