The partnership between LeBron James and Anthony Davis in Los Angeles reached a dramatic conclusion when the Lakers made a blockbuster move, trading Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Luka Doncic. During their time together, the duo led the Lakers to an NBA championship in 2020 and advanced to the Western Conference Finals in 2023. However, the organization ultimately chose to head in a different direction.
Rumors have swirled about what led to the split, with some reports claiming James approved the trade—though he maintains he was not informed beforehand (h/t ESPN’s Dave McMenamin). As fans continue speculating, a January interview with Davis has resurfaced on social media.
The clip, taken from a January 17 interview with DeepCut and released on February 20, captures Davis answering hypothetical questions. When host VicBlends asked which Lakers teammate he would want by his side if stranded on an island, Davis responded without hesitation:
“Bron.”
Despite ongoing speculation about possible friction between the two stars, the resurfaced footage suggests they remained on good terms before the trade.
For Lakers fans, moving on from the James-Davis era will take time. The duo had an impressive 157-92 record when playing together, and Davis delivered standout performances over five seasons, averaging 24.8 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.2 blocks while shooting 53.2% from the field.
However, Doncic’s arrival marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Lakers. At just 25 years old, the Slovenian superstar appears poised to take the reins from James when the time comes, with the potential to guide the franchise to more championships in the future.
