Anthony Davis Reveals the Shocking Behind-the-Scenes of His Trade for Luka Dončić

The trade of Anthony Davis from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Dallas Mavericks for Luka Dončić remains one of the most shocking trades in NBA history. In a recent appearance on The Draymond Green Show, the Washington Wizards big man finally pulled back the curtain on that memorable evening, revealing details as surprising as they are emotional.

« I Thought It Was a Joke »

It all started with a missed call from Rob Pelinka in the middle of the night. « Rob Pelinka calls me, but it’s 8:45–9 PM in Los Angeles, so midnight in New York. I tell myself: I’ll call him back tomorrow, » recalls Davis. It was ultimately his agent Rich Paul who broke the news: « They just traded you to Dallas. »

Davis‘s reaction was immediate: « Stop messing around. I said: ‘They traded me for who? Luka?’ Because I thought: who else could they trade from that team for me? » Even after Paul confirmed it, Davis refused to believe it. « I really thought he was joking. I really thought he was playing around. »

The disbelief persisted even after a call from Nico Harrison, then GM of the Mavericks: « He said: ‘I told you I’d come get you one day. I wanted you.’ I thought they were both pulling my leg. »

Anthony Davis reveals what Nico Harrison told him after the trade to Dallas
« I told you I was gonna get you one day, I wanted you. »
(via @DraymondShow / https://t.co/2S48TUVT7f) pic.twitter.com/JYj0hwNYf9

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 8, 2026

A Lack of Respect That Still Stings

What struck Davis the most was the way the trade went down. « I had great conversations with Rob and JJ at the start of the season. I was playing really well. And nobody told me anything, » he admitted bitterly. « I think I deserve a lot more respect than that. I stayed six years, we won a championship. And you can’t even call or text me to let me know what’s going to happen? »

Final confirmation came through social media and calls from other players, including Joel Embiid. « I go on X, straight to Shams’ profile. Nothing. Then Joel Embiid calls me. Someone else called me, another player, and I thought: wait. So I go back to Shams’ page and there it was. »

The welcome in Dallas immediately set the tone. Davis found an anonymous letter slipped under his hotel room door: « Dear AD, I hope you enjoy Dallas. Here we love Dirk, barbecue, Luka… and the Cowboys. But what we love more than anything is championships. The boos you’ll hear aren’t meant for you. »

Now with Washington following Harrison‘s firing and his own trade to the Wizards, Davis keeps a balanced perspective: « Even if I didn’t understand it from my point of view, I understand the trade. Luka is Luka. » A closed chapter, but one whose scars remain visible.

READ ALSO

Anthony Davis Sent to Washington Before the NBA Trade Deadline: A Giant Duo with Alex Sarr

Feb 4, 2026

Sylvain Sultat