LeBron James breaks silence on Lakers’ shock Anthony Davis-Luka Doncic trade with angry post on X, after one of the most astonishing trades in NBA history
LeBron James has angrily hit back at claims he wanted Anthony Davis out of the Los Angeles Lakers, after his seismic trade to the Dallas Mavericks was announced on Saturday night.
The Lakers are are sending Davis, a 2029 first-round pick and Max Christie to the Mavericks, in exchange for Luka Doncic, one of the stars of the NBA, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris.
The incredible news shook the sporting world to the core. It is, unquestionably, one of the biggest trades in the NBA history.
Bill Reiter, the NBA Insider for CBS, told his channel that he had heard talk last year within the Lakers organization that James was growing frustrated with teammate Davis.
‘It wasn’t that AD was going to be traded, it was just something to keep an eye on – that LeBron is frustrated with AD and doesn’t think that it is working,’ Reiter said of what he heard in 2024.
James, 40, hit back abruptly on X, replying to the video clip with a Pinocchio emoji and a clown emoji plus the comment: ‘You a fkn lie!!!’
LeBron James has slammed claims that he wanted Anthony Davis to leave the Lakers
James angrily hit out at a reporter who said he had grown frustrated with teammate Davis
James scored 33 points at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday night as his team beat the Knicks 128-112. Davis did not feature in the game.
But James himself apparently only learned about the deal while he was out to dinner with his family after the win.
‘James was surprised by the news, is processing it and had no idea it was in the works,’ ESPN reporter Dave McMenamin said on X early on Sunday morning.
According to ESPN, the trade talks were instigated by the Mavericks. Both Davis and Doncic were also unaware of the news ahead of time, they said.
The 25-year-old Doncic hasn’t played since Christmas Day after exiting his team’s game against the Timberwolves with a calf strain.
The move for Doncic suggests that the Lakers are ushering in a new era with Doncic surely in line to lead the team whenever James, 40, retires.
The Lakers, fifth in the Western Conference, face the Mavericks in Los Angeles on Feb. 25.
