Anthony Davis made his first return to Los Angeles to face the Lakers on Friday since last season’s blockbuster trade that sent him to the Dallas Mavericks.
Ahead of the highly anticipated NBA Cup showdown, the superstar big man shared a playful moment with his former Lakers co-star LeBron James, sparking wholesome NBA fan reactions.
NBA Fans React to LeBron James Showing Love to Anthony Davis
Entering Friday, Davis hadn’t played since Oct. 29, missing 14 consecutive games due to a left calf strain. However, the 10-time All-Star made a concerted effort to be available against his ex-team, acknowledging as much during an interview after Wednesday’s practice.
“You know what game I want to play,” Davis said while discussing his status for Dallas’ back-to-back set on Friday and Saturday. “But we’ll see.”
Davis made good on his ambition, taking the court at Crypto.com Arena, allowing James to have some fun with the oft-injured 32-year-old.
As Davis was stretching pregame, the four-time MVP walked up behind him and gave him a lighthearted nudge, followed by a hip check. James’ gesture elicited a smile from Davis, prompting fans on X to respond in earnest.
LeBron James & Anthony Davis before the game tonight. 🤣
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) November 29, 2025
“bros forever,” one fan said.
“this just made me smile,” another wrote.
“Can’t believe it took me this long for the trade to feel real,” one user remarked.
“Nahh they’re brothers,” another weighed in.
“This shi means sum to me,” one more shared.
Meanwhile, others questioned lingering speculation about the superstars potentially harboring resentment for one another.
“But they said LeBron traded him,” one fan pointed out.
“But #they told me AD didn’t fw him anymore,” another noted.
Davis and James spent five and a half seasons as teammates, winning the 2020 NBA title in their first year together. Though injuries took their toll on Davis during his tenure in LA, he remained a strong complement to the 21-time All-Star when healthy, until he was shockingly dealt for Luka Dončić.
While the Dončić-led Lakers entered Friday with a blistering 13-4 record, Dallas stumbled to a 5-14 start, going 3-11 in Davis’ absence, with trade rumors escalating.
However, Davis isn’t letting the outside noise get to him, instead focusing on what he can do to help turn the Mavericks’ season around.
“That doesn’t affect me; I’ve been in trade talks for a while,” Davis said ahead of Friday’s clash. “My job is to do what I do when I’m on the floor, play basketball, and try to lead this team. Whatever comes out of that, comes out of that.”