‘That was very, very difficult’: LeBron James, Lakers still in shock over Anthony Davis trade-ZoomTech News

After Anthony Davis discovered he was traded to Dallas on Saturday night, he FaceTimed LeBron James. 

James declined to disclose the phrases that had been exchanged, however he described the tenor of their dialog. 

“If AD desires to speak about that second, [he can], nevertheless it was positively a bizarre, uncomfortable reality second for us,” James mentioned in his first public feedback in regards to the deal following the Los Angeles Lakers’ 122-97 win over the LA Clippers on Tuesday. “Simply figuring out that he was going to be gone, that was very, very tough. Very difficult. I can see how in shock he was, clearly. And he most likely noticed it from my face as properly.”

James and Davis had been extra than simply two superstars who shared the court docket. They had been one another’s supporters by means of one of many hardest seasons of their careers, which included the dying of Kobe Bryant and spending 93 days contained in the NBA bubble in Orlando through the COVID-19 pandemic. They led the staff to their first championship in 10 years that season.

From 2019-2025, their on-court relationship reworked from mentor and mentee to the 40-year-old face of the league passing the baton to the 31-year-old celebrity, with James calling Davis one of the best participant on the Lakers. 

However most significantly, they had been associates. Davis went to Taco Tuesday at James’ home. Davis sat courtside when James’ son, Bronny, made his G League debut. Their lockers had been subsequent to one another. They’d chat after video games. They’d lovingly take jabs at one another throughout interviews, with James joking about Davis’ unibrow and Davis teasing James for being previous. 

“Actually turned brothers over the past 5 1/2 years,” James mentioned. “What we had been in a position to accomplish on the ground, clearly that goes with out saying. However, extra importantly, what we had been in a position to accomplish off the ground, us rising collectively, figuring out one another’s households, seeing one another develop, seeing one another’s youngsters develop. It is fairly distinctive. Clearly, I used to be at his wedding ceremony when he received married. It has been — it was particular.”

When information broke of the beautiful three-team commerce that despatched Davis to the Mavericks and introduced Luka Doncic to the Lakers on Saturday, James was out to dinner together with his household following a win over the New York Knicks.

“I believed it was for certain faux,” James mentioned. “I believed it was a hoax, folks messing round or no matter. However then when AD known as me, AD Facetimed me and I talked to him for fairly some time and even once I received off the cellphone with him, it nonetheless did not appear actual. And it nonetheless just about did not appear actual till I noticed Luka at present and I noticed a clip of AD on the Dallas shootaround. That is when it lastly hit me, like, ‘Oh s—, that is actual.'”

Despite the fact that the commerce caught James off guard, he balked when requested if he was involved that it confirmed that the Lakers had been extra involved in regards to the future than the current.

“What’s mistaken with that?” James requested. “If I had considerations about it, I might waive my no-trade clause and rise up out of right here.”

As an alternative, James sat subsequent to Doncic on the bench Tuesday, a tease for followers who’re eagerly anticipating how the 2 superstars will mesh. (Doncic is out with a calf pressure however will do a five-on-five exercise Wednesday and will return as quickly as Saturday.)

“Luka’s been my favourite participant within the NBA for some time now,” James mentioned. “I believe you guys know that. And I’ve at all times simply tried to play the sport the fitting method and encourage the following era. And Luka occurs to be one in all them. And now we’re teammates. So it’s going to be a really seamless transition.”

Doncic had his introductory information convention with Los Angeles media earlier Tuesday morning, and he expressed pleasure that he can have the chance to study from James. “It is like a dream come true,” Doncic mentioned. “I at all times look as much as him.”

However everybody who was affected by Saturday’s commerce remains to be in a state of disbelief.

Doncic mentioned when he first heard the information, he needed to examine and ensure it wasn’t April 1st. Davis advised reporters in Dallas he was about to take a seat down for a film evening together with his spouse when he acquired a name from Redick and Lakers basic supervisor Rob Pelinka informing him in regards to the deal, including he was “shocked.” James, the oldest participant within the NBA at age 40, mentioned he hadn’t seen something like this over his 22-season profession.

A 25-year-old generational participant being traded? A deal involving two All-NBA gamers? No rumblings or rumors? Everybody being fully blindsided?

“I ain’t by no means seen this one,” James mentioned. “I’ve seen all of it up till this one. I’ve by no means been part of one transaction like that. That was totally different.”

The commerce introduced up a variety of feelings for a lot of NBA gamers. If Doncic could possibly be traded, is anybody secure?

As for Austin Reaves, he was grieving not having Davis on the staff. Reaves, who performed with Davis for 3 1/2 years, revealed he had a particular bond with one in all Davis’ sons.

“He could be telling AD, ‘I need to discuss to Reaves,'” Reaves recalled. “And I might at all times inform him to do the [ice in the veins] celebration and he would begin doing it. So it is simply little issues like which are why it is powerful.”

Reaves mentioned he has had an “empty pit in my abdomen” after saying goodbye to not solely Davis, but in addition Max Christie and Jalen Hood-Schifino, who had been additionally concerned within the deal.

“You create actual relationships with these guys and that is been the hardest half for me,” Reaves mentioned.

However the NBA is a enterprise and all of the gamers concerned have to look ahead. The Lakers have gained 9 of their final 11 video games and at the moment are in fifth place within the Western Convention. They want to determine a option to keep that momentum whereas integrating Doncic, who may remodel the franchise right into a contender for years to return.

It is an thrilling prospect. 

Nonetheless, one of many craziest trades in sports activities historical past left many individuals reeling, together with James, who misplaced his longtime co-pilot and good good friend within the locker room. 

His response when he first heard Davis was leaving?

“My feelings had been all over,” James mentioned

After a number of days, it was clear nothing had modified.

Melissa Rohlin is an NBA author for FOX Sports activities. She beforehand lined the league for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Occasions, the Bay Space Information Group and the San Antonio Categorical-Information. Observe her on Twitter @melissarohlin.

---

---