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Anthony Davis Reveals Pelicans' Tribute Video Snub Ended Reunion Hopes
Former Pelicans star says team's decision not to honor him on return trip permanently closed the door on a potential homecoming.
Apr. 9, 2026 at 12:05am
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A fractured, cubist depiction of the tension between a star player and his former team, as the Pelicans' perceived snub of Anthony Davis closed the door on a potential homecoming.New Orleans TodayIn a recent interview, NBA star Anthony Davis revealed that the New Orleans Pelicans' decision not to give him a tribute video when he returned to the Smoothie King Center as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers was the 'final straw' that ended any possibility of him rejoining the team later in his career. Davis said he had initially been open to a Pelicans reunion, but the lack of recognition on his first game back soured that possibility.
Why it matters
Davis was one of the best players in Pelicans franchise history, but his messy departure in 2019 left a bitter taste. The team's choice not to honor him on his return appears to have permanently damaged the relationship between the star and the organization, dashing any hopes of a future reconciliation or homecoming.
The details
In an interview on Draymond Green's podcast, Davis revealed that he had told Pelicans owner Gayle Benson before requesting a trade that he might be open to returning to the team later in his career. However, when he made his first trip back to New Orleans as a Laker, the lack of a tribute video 'pissed me off' and 'was the final straw' that closed the door on any potential reunion.
- In 2019, Davis requested a trade from the Pelicans.
- Davis made his first return to New Orleans as a member of the Lakers in April 2019.
The players
Anthony Davis
An NBA star who played for the New Orleans Pelicans from 2012 to 2019 before being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Gayle Benson
The owner of the New Orleans Pelicans.
What they’re saying
“When I went back, I did not get a tribute, and that was like the final straw for me. I didn't get a tribute going back to New Orleans... which pissed me off while the first game back... I was (expletive) hot.”
— Anthony Davis, NBA Player
“You know how when you get drafted to a team, and then when you're done, it's like, 'Damn, towards the end of my career, I might want to go back.' Like I've always had that mindset.”
— Anthony Davis, NBA Player
The takeaway
This situation highlights the complex dynamics between star players and the teams that draft them. While Davis was initially open to a Pelicans reunion, the team's perceived snub in not honoring him on his return trip appears to have permanently damaged that possibility, underscoring how quickly bridges can be burned in the NBA when a player's departure is acrimonious.
