Anthony Davis Reflects on Emotional Mavs Stint After Luka Trade: ‘I’m Just Thankful’

The Luka Doncic trade will be dissected for years. But for Anthony Davis, the man Dallas got in return, the emotions are raw and real right now.

“I’m just very appreciative that I get to play the game of basketball,” Davis said after the Mavericks’ season came to a close, via Ben Stinar of SI.com. “Appreciative to Dallas, and the fan base, and my teammates for accepting me.”

Davis didn’t ask for this. He didn’t expect it. One moment, he was in L.A. — the next, thrown into the center of a firestorm in Dallas, traded for a generational superstar.

And then he got hurt.

Still, he fought to return, hoping to help the Mavericks make a playoff push. That didn’t happen. But his approach never changed.

“Obviously, it’s a lot of emotions that I know are not directed towards me,” Davis said. “The city loved the guy. You get rid of a guy, new guy comes in… it still stings.”

Alongside Max Christie, Davis came into a locker room full of question marks and tried to focus on one thing: compete.

“Tough situation,” he said. “But I tried to do as much as I could to help us win.”

This wasn’t how Davis imagined the end of his season. But the respect, humility, and appreciation? That’s all real.

And that’s the part Dallas will remember.