LeBron James Sends Heartfelt Message to Ex-Lakers Teammate Anthony Davis
LeBron James shares emotional message for Anthony Davis after shocking Lakers-Mavericks trade. Get the details here.
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Anthony Davis and LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers.
LeBron James shared a heartfelt message as his parting shot for his close friend and now ex-Los Angeles Lakers teammate Anthony Davis.
âLove you my dog!! Go crazy over there. Woe 4 [life]! See you soon,â James posted on his Instagram story with a crying emoji.
LeBron James IGLeBron Jamesâ parting shot for ex-Lakers teammate Anthony Davis, who was traded for Luka Doncic.
In the wee hours of Sunday morning, the Lakers and Dallas Mavericks shocked the world with the most stunning trade in NBA history Davis and Luka DonÄiÄ swapped teams.
The Lakers received DonÄiÄ, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris from the Mavericks in the three-team deal which also included the Utah Jazz. In addition to Davis, the Mavericks also acquired Max Christie and the Lakersâ 2029 first-round pick.
The Jazz received Jalen Hood-Schifino, the LA Clippersâ 2025 second-round pick from the Lakers and the Mavericksâ 2025 second-round selection.
It was the first time two reigning All-NBA players were traded to each other midseason, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
LeBron James Didnât Know About the Trade
All three superstars did not have an inkling that the trade was coming.
James even referenced Davis as the Lakersâ best player after their 128-112 win over the New York Knicks on Saturday night.
âThereâs no way we can make up for [Davis] absence,â James told reporters. âThereâs no way especially defensively, offensively. Heâs our best player so we all have to figure out how to do a little bit more and I think tonight we did that.â
A couple of hours later, they became ex-teammates.
According to ESPNâs Dave McMenamin, James was having dinner at a New York restaurant with his family when he learned about the trade.
âJames was surprised by the news, is processing it and had no idea it was in the works, sources said,â McMenamin wrote on XÂ shortly after ESPNâs Shams Charania broke the news of the trade.
James and Davis have played for five and a half seasons together and led the Lakers to the championship during the pandemic-hit 2019-20 season. They were one of the best pick-and-roll partners in the NBA for years, but health and clunky roster constructions kept them from winning more championships.
LeBron James Livid About Anthony Davis Rumor
Jamesâ first social media post since the trade was not a message to Davis nor his reaction to the trade.
It was an angry reaction to a report from CBSâ NBA insider Bill Reiterâs report, which suggested he had a hand in Davis, his close friend, getting traded.
âYou a [expletive] lie!!! ???????? â James wrote on X, refuting the report.
Reiter said in his report that there was friction between James and Davis dating back to last season.
âSo, I have not been able to reach every source you would like to as this breaking news story. So Joe [Musso], Iâm going to tell you something that was true a year ago, but I think it is pertinent now,â Reiter reported. âAnd I remember I talked to you about this on CBS Sports HQ last year at the trade deadline, Lakers fans got very angry, but at the time, there was talk within the Lakers organization that LeBron James had grown a little frustrated with Anthony Davis.
âIt wasnât that necessary [Davis] was going to be traded. We obviously didnât report that on CBS boards. It was just, âHey, thereâs something to keep an eye on.â LeBron is frustrated with [Davis]. He doesnât think that itâs working, and thatâs because LeBron has very, very high expectations. And you fast forward a year later. Obviously, that reporting, really, that information from Lakers sources, was accurate.â
Reiter stood by his reporting.
âCheck out the entire video to understand the context here. I stand by my reporting,â he wrote on X in response to Jamesâ reaction.