The second Davis-Doncic era meeting is circled in bold on NBA calendars: April 9th, Mavericks vs. Lakers. But for Anthony Davis, it’s just another game. At least that’s the story he’s sticking to.
Asked about the emotional weight of facing LeBron James in Dallas-his teammate of six years and co-pilot in a 2020 championship run-Davis didn’t flinch. “No emotions,” he told Fox Sports’ Melissa Rohlin after a blowout loss to the Clippers.
It’s a response as icy as it is telling. This is no reunion tour. It’s business.
Since being traded to Dallas for Luka Doncic in one of the league’s most unexpected shakeups, Davis has found himself at the center of a rebuild on the fly. After missing 18 games due to a groin injury, he’s back and putting up solid numbers-20.6 points, 9.6 boards, 3.4 assists over seven games-but the team around him is floundering.
Mavs slide continues and Davis Is over it
Following their 135-104 loss to the Clippers, Davis didn’t hold back. “Just play hard,” he said postgame. “Energy and effort-next play mentality… That’s not our team. We’re better than that.”
Dallas currently sits 9th in the West at 38-41, with two straight losses and zero Kyrie Irving in sight. The former All-Star is still sidelined, leaving Davis as the lone anchor in a team struggling to find its identity post-trade.
Meanwhile, the Lakers are trending in the opposite direction. LeBron is still LeBron, and Los Angeles is looking more like a playoff threat with each passing week. And when they roll into the American Airlines Center, all eyes will be on the handshake-or lack thereof-between two men who once lifted a banner together.
But if you’re expecting drama, Davis is signaling otherwise. He’s not interested in flashbacks or headlines. His focus is singular: getting Dallas back to playing real basketball.
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