The Dallas Mavericks’ season is officially over.
They went from making the NBA Finals last season to failing to make the playoffs this year.
However, the biggest storyline for the franchise will obviously be the Luka Doncic trade.
Not even landing a future first-ballot Hall of Famer like Anthony Davis was enough to appease the fan base’s wrath.
Nevertheless, they also knew that it was not Davis’s fault, and they embraced him with open arms in the Lone Star State.
With that in mind, Davis tipped his hat to the fans and claimed to be appreciative for the opportunity to play for them, all things considered (via Grant Afseth):
“I’m just appreciative. Obviously, it’s a lot of emotions that I know are not directed towards me. The city loved the guy. You get rid of a guy, new guy coming in, but they want to embrace you, and thankful for you—still stings,” he said.
Anthony Davis sums up his experience with the Dallas Mavericks to finish the season after the trade:
“I’m just very appreciative that I get to play the game of basketball. Appreciative to Dallas, and the fan base, and my teammates have accepted me and welcomed me with open arms,… pic.twitter.com/nj3qqj4in9
— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) April 20, 2025
Lakers owner Jeanie Buss claimed that Davis wasn’t happy in Los Angeles anymore because he didn’t enjoy playing center.
Even so, the trade came out of the blue, and he was reportedly blindsided by it.
Davis got hurt during his Mavericks debut and sustained another injury in their Play-In Tournament loss, and that obviously makes the trade all the more worrisome for the fan base and the organization.
Every team and fan would love to have Davis suit up, but his history of injuries and underperformance in key moments is also a big factor to consider in this equation.
He’s one of the best two-way players in the game when healthy, as well as one of the most talented players in NBA history.
But as great as he undeniably is, he’s brittle and older than the young superstar they traded just months after reaching the biggest stage.
NEXT: Nico Harrison’s Reaction To Mavs’ Loss On Friday Is Going Viral
