Los Angeles Lakers big man Anthony Davis is in a more ideal situation as the franchise cornerstone for one of the most famous sports teams in the world. But it was not long ago The Brow was down in the dumps.
Davis recently reflected on his final days with the New Orleans Pelicans. The former No. 1 overall pick said the joy of basketball was slowly being zapped away, and the absence of joy led to contentious interactions with New Orleans media and Pelicans fans:
“I didn’t want to go to practice, I didn’t want to play,” the Lakers star said, via Preston Ellis of SB Nation's The Bird Writes. “There was just a lot going on because I didn’t have that joy with me anymore. Getting into it with the fans, the media, it was just a lot. I wasn’t in a great frame of mind — a great space for me to be joyful.
“Every day was like, ‘Ugh, here’s another day. I can’t wait until the season is over.’ Things like that. You’d see people say, ‘AD, you traitor!’ and I’d think, ‘What? You don’t understand what I’m going through.’ It was all wearing down on me at one time, but I had a great team around me, from my agency to my family to my friends, ‘Nah, forget what they’re saying. You’re doing what’s best for you and your family.’”
Before the trade to the Lakers, Davis' final season with the Pels was incredibly strange. He began the campaign playing at an MVP level, but his performance was eventually interrupted by injuries and trade requests. Davis infamously wore a “That's All, Folks” shirt ahead of New Orleans' final home game, essentially declaring his intent to leave town.
The 2018-19 season was equally turbulent for the Lakers, with the team failing to acquire Davis at the deadline. Ultimately, Magic Johnson would step down as president of basketball operations, with things being thrown up for grabs.
Of course, things have worked out quite well for Davis and the Lakers since. But AD was in a rough spot in his basketball life.
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