It will be an emotional homecoming of sorts for Anthony Davis as his Los Angeles Lakers face off against the New Orleans Pelicans in the Smoothie King Center on Wednesday. This will be the first time the 6-foot-10 big man will return to his old stomping ground following his big summer move to Los Angeles.

For his part, Davis already knows that it's not going to be a warm welcome for him from the home crowd given how he exited:

“I kind of had a little bit of it after the trade (request), that first game against Minnesota,” Davis told a small group of reporters on Saturday following the Lakers’ win in Memphis, via Bill Oram of The Athletic. “Felt like I was on the other side. I got a little taste of it, but I know it’s going to be even worse.”

Davis spent the first seven years of his career with the New Orleans franchise, and the Pelicans faithful did not exactly like how he forced his way off the team.

Nevertheless, Davis does not appear to be fazed by what he expects to be a hostile reception:

“I’m excited to play,” he said. “Just like I was excited to play that first game against Minnesota last year, but I think you’ve got to embrace it.

“I know what the reaction’s going to be. I try to look at all the guys who went and had something like that, but it’s unique, and I’m excited to go there and play for the first time with an opposing team, so it’s going to be fun.”

Davis has been a beast for the top-seeded Lakers thus far, averaging 25.5 points (on 48.2 percent shooting), 8.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.5 steals, and 3.0 blocks, all while also connecting on 1.2 3-pointers per ballgame on a 36.0 percent clip.