Anthony Davis expressed his desire to "give life back" to Dallas Maverick fans who are still upset about Luka Doncic's stunning trade to the Los Angeles Lakers. (More Sports News)
✨Davis was part of the blockbuster trade with Doncic, which saw the Mavs acquire Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick.
🎐Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris, meanwhile, went the other way to join the Slovenian in Los Angeles.
꧙Much of the frustration has been sent in the way of Dallas' general manager, Nico Harrison, who allowed Doncic to leave just eight months after the Mavs reached the NBA Finals for the first time since winning the franchise's only championship in 2011.
❀Davis understood that Mavericks fans were shocked by the decision, but offered reassurance that he would do everything in his power to bring back a positive mood around the franchise.
♛"I understand it," Davis said on Friday regarding the fans' outrage. "Obviously, it's a business, and I get who Luka was to this franchise, to the city.
ꦚ"I'm never going to downplay that -- just how I know what I meant to the city of L.A. So I'm not surprised by the fans' reaction and the city's reaction.
𓃲"But it's my job to come in and play basketball and do what I'm supposed to do and give the fans hope and reassurance about why [GM] Nico [Harrison] brought me here."
💧Davis is expected to make his Mavericks debut this Saturday against the Houston Rockets in Dallas' first home game since allowing Doncic to leave.
♑A protest is planned outside the American Airlines Center before the game surrounding the decision.
ཧ"I don't know how tomorrow's going to be as far as the reaction, but I can't control that," Davis said.
๊"What I can control, it's going and just winning basketball games and helping the team do whatever I can. But at the end of the day, I'm going to give the city life back."
💃Davis will be looking to bring a wealth of experience to the Mavs, boasting a career which has seen him named as an NBA All-Star 10 times.
💦He has also averaged 24.2 points and 10.7 rebounds across his career, and helped the Lakers to their 17th championship in 2020 alongside LeBron James.
ꩵ"I'd just tell them you've got a guy who's going to be on the floor every night," Davis said when asked what he would say to one of those angry fans.
🦋"A guy who's going to compete every night and bring that championship experience to the organisation, tries to help lead this team to some championships."
