LeBron James not 'comfortable' seeing Anthony Davis in a Mavericks jersey after first head-to-head in 2,233 days
LA Lakers superstar LeBron James faced off against former running mate Anthony Davis for the first time on Wednesday following the blockbuster deal that sent Davis to the Dallas Mavericks for Luka Doncic in February.
James made his thoughts known following the Lakers' 112-97 road victory over the Mavericks, which marked his first head-to-head matchup with Davis in 2,233 days.
James told reporters:
"[It was] Different [playing against him]. Obviously, we have our own emotions built into it. I think it was the first time we didn't play together since 2019 I believe, when he was in New Orleans... It's just different, man. I ain't comfortable yet with him being on the other side."
LeBron James had a good game on Wednesday, finishing with 27 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists in 36 minutes. Thirteen of his total points came in the fourth quarter, as the Lakers pulled away for the win.
His play complemented the impressive performance of Doncic, who had 45 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals in his emotional first game back in Dallas.
The win improved the Lakers to 49-31, currently at third spot in the Western Conference and guaranteed a top 6 finish and an automatic place in the playoffs.
Davis, meanwhile, finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists against his former team. Despite the loss, the Mavericks (38-42) still hold the 10th spot and final ticket for the play-in tournament.
LeBron James admits to being stunned by trade of Anthony Davis
While he has moved on from no longer playing with Anthony Davis, LeBron James admitted that when the surprise trade was made, it hit hard.
He spoke about it days after the deal was completed, highlighting how emotionally he was all over the place.
James said:
"The first time I heard it, I thought it was for sure fake. I thought it was a hoax... Pretty much didn't seem real until I saw Luka today, and then I saw the clip of AD at the Dallas shootaround. That's when it finally hit me, like, 'This is real.'"
Davis joined LeBron James in 2019 from the New Orleans Pelicans, winning an NBA title together in 2020. They helped the Lakers make the playoffs four times in the previous five seasons.
The two were also part of Team USA that won the gold medal in the Paris Olympic Games last summer.