It has been over a month since the Los Angeles Lakers shocked the NBA world by trading Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Luka Doncic.
The move ended a five-year partnership between Davis and LeBron James, a duo that delivered a championship to the Lakers in 2020 but struggled to maintain dominance due to injuries.
Davis turned down LeBron’s 23 twice
Despite their time together coming to an end, Davis and James still appear to share a strong bond.
That was evident when the two embraced during the Lakers-Mavericks matchup on February 25.
In a recent interview with Mavericks TV, Davis opened up about a personal moment he shared with James during his early days in Los Angeles, one that had never been publicly revealed before.
According to Davis, James initially offered to give him the No. 23 jersey, his longtime number with the New Orleans Pelicans, when he first joined the Lakers in 2019.
However, Davis declined the offer.
“When I got to LA, Bron wanted to give me the 23, but I was like, ‘I don’t want to take your number,'”Davis shared.
James made the offer again in the following season when he switched to No. 6, but once more, Davis opted to stick with his new number.
“Then that second year, he went to 6 and he asked me if I wanted 23,”Davis explained.
“And I was like, ‘I actually want to stay with 3. I want to go back to where it all started.'”
NBA fans may recall that James had publicly committed to giving up No. 23 to Davis when the Lakers acquired him in the blockbuster trade with New Orleans.
However, the plan fell apart due to logistical complications.
Nike, which had already produced a significant amount of James’ No. 23 jerseys, reportedly blocked the change to avoid taking a financial hit.
As a result, Davis settled on No. 3-a number he ultimately chose to keep throughout his Lakers tenure.
Fast forward to 2025, and Davis now finds himself in a new chapter with the Mavericks.
His debut with Dallas was promising, as he was on pace for a historic performance before suffering an adductor strain.
Since then, he has remained sidelined, leaving Mavericks fans frustrated, especially in light of Doni thriving in Los Angeles.
With Dallas currently struggling in the Western Conference playoff race and injuries piling up across the roster, the pressure is on Davis to return and make an impact.
Despite the skepticism surrounding the trade, Davis remains confident in his ability to lead the Mavericks forward.
“I know who I am as a player,”Davis told Mavericks TV.
“I’m top-75 of all time. I just wanted to let Dallas fans know, I’ve got y’all, I’m here, I’m here now. I know you lost a superstar in Luka, but you also gained a superstar in myself.”
While winning over Dallas fans may take time, Davis’ confidence in his abilities hasn’t wavered.
If he can stay healthy and deliver for the Mavericks, his tenure in Dallas could still have a chance to be defined by success rather than controversy.
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