WATCH: Anthony Davis Returns to Lakers’ Practice Facility With Mavericks GM Nico Harrison For First Time Since Trade

Anthony Davis made his unexpected return to the Los Angeles Lakers’ practice facility on Wednesday. Now a cornerstone of the Dallas Mavericks, he wasn’t there to reminisce, but to observe the Klutch Sports Pro Day.

The event is designed to showcase top prospects for the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft. By his side, was Dallas Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison, scouting potential talent, a figure whose name still elicits vitriol from the Dallas faithful.

Davis’ Tricky Time as a Dallas Maverick

Davis, who wore a Mavericks hat during the event, was a pivotal piece in the earth-shattering trade that sent Luka Dončić to the Lakers. Since joining the Mavericks, Davis has posted solid numbers, averaging 20 points, 10.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 2.2 blocks in his nine regular-season appearances.

In the two Play-In matchups, he elevated his game, averaging 33.5 points and nine rebounds. However, his tenure in Dallas has so far been hampered by his familiar nemesis: injuries. The 32-year-old center forward’s persistent health concerns have plagued his otherwise dominant career.

He aggravated a left adductor strain shortly after arriving and has battled various ailments, limiting him to just 51 total appearances this season between Los Angeles and Dallas. This continues to be a concerning trend for Davis, who has played in 56 or fewer games in four of the last five seasons.

Anthony Davis and Mavs GM Nico Harrison pulled up to Klutch pro day in Los Angeles at the Lakers’ practice facility to check out some draft prospects 😯

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(📽️: @DraftExpress)pic.twitter.com/5xhGMKrreX

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 21, 2025

Harrison’s presence alongside Davis in the Lakers’ facility was a stark reminder of the seismic shift he orchestrated in the Mavericks’ franchise. The trade of Luka Dončić, the beloved face of the team, for Davis and other assets was met with widespread outrage from Dallas fans. Harrison himself admitted he did not know the extent to which Dončić mattered to the fanbase and has acknowledged at subsequent press conferences that he has heard the “Fire Nico” chants.

Despite his justification that the move was made to build a team that would win championships in the present, the initial fan reaction was resoundingly hostile. Winning, Harrison asserts, will be the ultimate solution for the wounded relationship with the fanbase.

The Mavericks have only one pick in the upcoming draft, the first overall pick. This was a gift from the basketball gods to Harrison in the hopes that taking Cooper Flagg can help repair his relationship with the fans. Pairing Flagg with Davis, Klay Thompson, and eventually Kyrie Irving when he returns from a torn ACL should be potent enough to demand a deep playoff run. If not, Harrison would have to brace for impact.