Anthony Davis returned to the Los Angeles Lakers floor as a Washington Wizard for the first time on Monday. The 10-time NBA All-Star remains a popular figure among his old team’s fan base 13 months after his blockbuster trade to the Dallas Mavericks for Luka Doncic. While the Lakers are in a better place since the deal, Davis contributions, especially on the 2020 championship team, remain fresh in everyone’s minds.
On Monday, Davis sent the fans into nostalgia after attempting a pregame football ritual he had with the Lakers.
Anthony Davis then shared a light moment with Jaxson Hayes and was engaged in friendly banter with nearly all of the Lakers players. After this video went viral, Lakers fans didn’t waste time expressing their desire to reunite with the former star center. Here’s what they commented:
“AD just ask for a buyout or sum bruh,” one fan said.
“Miss my demon,” another wrote.
“nah he definitely miss those days,” one fan added.
“Man bring demon AD back omg,” another wrote.
“Imagine AD on this current team!” one fan said.
Lakers’ Rui Hachimura forgot Anthony Davis was on the Wizards
Anthony Davis’ tenure with the Mavericks didn’t last long. Despite coveting him, Dallas traded the 10-time All-Star within a year of acquiring him for franchise centerpiece Luka Doncic. Davis’ tenure with the Texan franchise was overshadowed by prevailing injuries, limiting him to 29 games. This year, he averaged 20.4 points per game, his lowest since his rookie year.
The Mavericks traded him to the Wizards while Davis recovered from a hand injury. They apparently didn’t inform him or his agent, Rich Paul, about these negotiations. Dallas secured a haul of two first-round picks and three second-round picks, along with salary fillers.
With Davis yet to make his debut for the Wizards, Lakers’ Rui Hachimura nearly forgot about the trade. Hachimura, a former Wizards player, realized that only after looking over at the Wizards’ bench and seeing Davis seated in street clothes.
“I was looking at the bench, and then I saw AD, and I was shocked. I was like, wait,” Hachimura said. “I totally forgot about it.”
Davis will get his first run at the Lakers as a Wizards player next year. He’s ruled out for the season as Washington looks to improve its odds in the lottery and secure a top pick in the 2026 draft to bolster the team around Davis and Trae Young.
