It’s been just over seven years since Anthony Davis last played for the New Orleans Pelicans. No matter how ugly it ended between them, there is history there: He started his NBA career with them and played for them for seven years. However, from the horse’s mouth, it sounds like a reunion may never happen.
Why a Pelicans Reunion for Wizards Center Anthony Davis Is Unlikely
While talking on Draymond Green’s podcast, Davis revealed that the team not giving him a tribute video turned him off to the idea of reuniting with them down the line.
“When I went back, I did not get a tribute, and that was like the final straw for me,” Davis said. “I didn’t get a tribute going back to New Orleans… which pissed me off while the first game back… I was (expletive) hot.”
Davis then went into more detail about his initial openness to a return.
“You know how when you get drafted to a team, and then when you’re done, it’s like, ‘Damn, towards the end of my career, I might want to go back.’ Like I’ve always had that mindset.
“I told Miss Benson… when I was going to her right before the deadline to ask for a trade, I told her, ‘Look, Ms. B., I want to get out of here, you know, these are the reasons.’ Miss B. was cool, like me, and Ms. B still cool to this day, and I told her, ‘This might not be the end though.’
“Like later on in my career, who knows if I was to come back and we try to do something special as I’m older and a little mature and the game developed, win a couple of championships, I don’t know. I left that door open.
“And when I went back, that first game, got no tribute, I said no, that door is closed.”
Davis has every right to be upset with the Pelicans for not giving him a tribute video. He was one of the best players in franchise history, but he arguably didn’t accomplish more because he was injury-prone, which is no one’s fault.
However, why is Davis acting like he had nothing to do with the falling-out? He gave up on the Pelicans, did everything in his power to force a trade to the Los Angeles Lakers (which they ultimately gave him), and had no issues making everything uncomfortable from the moment he requested a trade to when they finally granted it.
Anthony Davis just showed up to the Smoothie King Center in a “That’s all Folks!” t-shirt.
This is gonna be a fun night, guys. pic.twitter.com/vvJCsc4IIV
— Andrew Lopez (@_Andrew_Lopez) April 9, 2019
He had every right to want out, just like the Pelicans had every right not to give him a tribute. That’s what happens with star players who burned bridges for one but didn’t really take the team anywhere. The furthest Davis took New Orleans was in the second round, which happened only once, and it was the year before he wanted out.
By contrast, if and when the Milwaukee Bucks trade Giannis Antetokounmpo, they will give him a tribute video because he was loyal to them through thick and thin and brought them a title. He didn’t bail too long after his rookie contract expired, something Davis did in New Orleans.
Given how he handled his exit, the Pelicans were completely justified in not honoring him after his conduct. That’s just how it works.
Besides, he should be more grateful for them than the other way around. Because of what they did, he’s an NBA champion!
Reading between the lines of what Davis is saying here, he thinks the Pelicans should get over how things went down between them at the end. If he takes a look in the mirror, he should take his own advice.
