Six years after forcing his way out of New Orleans, Anthony Davis continues to feel the lingering resentment from Pelicans fans. While his trade to the Los Angeles Lakers ultimately proved beneficial for both franchises, the bitterness surrounding his departure has not entirely faded.
Now with the Dallas Mavericks, Davis returned to the Smoothie King Center on Monday night for the first time this season and was met with an icy reception from the home crowd.
Anthony Davis Addresses Pelicans Fans’ Lingering Resentment
Pelicans fans have clearly not moved on from the way Davis ended his tenure in New Orleans. With just over seven minutes remaining in the first quarter, Davis called for the ball from Ryan Nembhard. The moment Davis received it, the crowd throughout the Smoothie King Center erupted in a chorus of boos.
The Pelicans fans still haven’t forgiven AD “BOOOOOO” pic.twitter.com/lXjyGVCkmw
— MavsHighlights (@MavsHighlights) December 23, 2025
The reaction remained constant all night, as Davis was met with hostility on nearly every possession. Rather than shrinking from it, the former Pelicans star appeared fueled by the atmosphere, erupting for 35 points and 17 rebounds in 35 minutes.
However, his dominant performance wasn’t enough to lift the Mavericks, as Zion Williamson led New Orleans to a narrow 113-119 victory.
After the game, Davis addressed the lingering resentment from the home crowd with a blunt response.
“I don’t care,” Davis said. “It doesn’t really bother me.”
When Davis was selected first overall in the 2012 NBA Draft, expectations in New Orleans were sky-high, as he was largely perceived as a franchise cornerstone capable of leading the Pelicans into championship contention.
However, his time with the organization fell short of those lofty hopes. During Davis’ tenure, the Pelicans reached the postseason only twice and struggled to build a competitive roster around him consistently.
By early 2019, Davis made it clear he was ready to move on, informing the team he would not sign a contract extension and formally requesting a trade. That summer, he was dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers, a move that paid immediate dividends as Davis helped the franchise win an NBA championship in 2020.
New Orleans also walked away with a significant return in the deal. In exchange for Davis, the Pelicans received three first-round picks along with Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and Josh Hart. With strong asset management, those pieces could have been used to build a contender around Williamson, but the organization ultimately fell short.
Monday’s victory marked just the Pelicans’ eighth win of the season through 30 games, offering some context for why frustration still lingers among the fan base. Still, as Davis’ performance and postgame response made clear, he has long since moved on.
