During a nearly two-hour chat on The Draymond Green Show, Anthony Davis opened up about his basketball journey. After a lengthy 15-year NBA career, he reflected on various surprising moments.
The discussion, part introspective and part lighthearted, kicked off with Davis’ new prank show on TBS, titled “Anthony Davis’ Foul.” When Green asked about the choice of pranking him in the first episode, Davis shared that the original target was supposed to be Bronny James Jr., coordinated through Rich Paul and LeBron James. However, LeBron suggested they prank Green instead, believing his genuine reactions would shine on screen.
And he was right—Davis had that much confidence in the idea; LeBron did too.
As the conversation shifted, Davis delved into the 2020 championship run in the Orlando bubble, and his tone noticeably changed. He described that title as the hardest one to achieve in basketball, underscoring the isolation and pressure they faced without any fans for support.
Even after they secured the championship, there was no outlet, no celebrations in Los Angeles—no parades or confetti, which he found disappointing. “I wish I had that,” he said, suggesting that the absence of those traditional celebrations lingers in his mind even now.
Davis also reflected on his departure from the Pelicans, calling it “a terrible breakup.” Despite initially believing he might return to New Orleans someday, his thoughts shifted when the team failed to honor him with a video tribute during his first game back as an opponent. For someone who had dedicated years to the franchise, the silence felt worse than any boos.
“This was my last hope,” he stated, almost in disbelief.
He went on to recount the shocking moment when he was traded for Luka Doncic, which occurred just after midnight ET. He recalled being half asleep next to his wife when Rob Pelinka called, a call he initially ignored. By the time he went downstairs to answer Rich Paul’s call, his chef was already telling him he had been traded to the Mavericks.
Davis had always expressed a desire to team up with Doncic, believing he could elevate his game. “I always told people I wanted to play with him,” he said, recognizing Doncic as the closest player to LeBron, boasting the skills to do it all.
However, upon speaking with Paul and learning he was indeed being traded for Doncic, Davis thought it was some sort of prank. “I thought it was a joke,” he admitted, feeling unreal about the entire situation.
Surprisingly, he didn’t take a loss from that twist. “I was in total shock. I couldn’t understand why this happened,” he expressed, noting his disappointment at not being informed of the trade sooner. “I think I deserve more respect than that.”
The days that followed were surreal. On his first night in Dallas, he found an anonymous note slipped under his hotel door, accompanied by macarons. The message was a puzzling mix of warm welcome and warning.
“Dear AD, we hope you love your time in Dallas,” it read, discussing the local admiration for players like Dirk Nowitzki, while preparing him for the boos that were soon to come.
His time with the Mavericks felt rushed. Due to injuries, he and Kyrie Irving didn’t get the chance to showcase the potential the trade hinted at, and several key individuals in that scenario were let go, leaving Davis feeling that vision never materialized.
When discussing his current move to Washington, Davis admitted his initial reaction was a candid, “Damn, Washington?”
But he’s now embracing the challenge of building something alongside Trae Young and a promising young squad in the capital. As the conversation wrapped up, Davis shared his MVP predictions for the season. His list included Victor Wembanyama, Nikola Jokic, Jaylen Brown, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Doncic—an interesting selection, just like the rest of his insights.
