Anthony Davis gives LeBron James to Warriors trade rumors 'strange' label

Anthony Davis recalls when the Los Angeles Lakers nearly went through a wholesale change at the 2023-2024 trade deadline that would have shaken up the entire league. The near-trade started with a rumor and ended with the Golden State Warriors attempting to send in an offer for LeBron James.

As the 2024-2025 season inches closer, Davis reflected on the moment that he called "strange." The 31-year-old said that nothing about the rumor affected the team and was a mere abnormal afterthought for most of the players.

"I can't remember how I heard about it, I think my dad called me," Davis said, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN. "I don't think it affected anything [but] I think that might've been the first time that [LeBron James has] been in trade talks in his career. That didn't affect our team. It was definitely strange to hear in the sense of it was the first time he was talked about in a trade before."

The rumors were confirmed when ESPN reported that the Warriors went all-in on pursuing the trade at the deadline but were shut down by both Rob Pelinka and James' agent, Rich Paul. Golden State owner Joe Lacob reportedly reached out to Lakers owner Jeanie Buss to inquire about James' availability before general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. took over.

James had no desire to leave Los Angeles and ended the season with Davis on the Lakers. In the offseason, the team selected his son, Bronny James, with the No. 55 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, effectively guaranteeing that he would remain with the team for the rest of his career.

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Entering his 13th year in the NBA, Anthony Davis is gearing up for his sixth season with the Lakers in 2024-2025. Davis is coming off arguably his best season with the team, appearing in a career-high 76 regular season games.

Davis' health has been a major storyline throughout his career, having never played a full 82-game season. His 76 games in his fifth season with the Lakers marked the first time he appeared in over 60 games since his first year with the team in 2019-2020.

Ahead of the upcoming season the Lakers made the biggest change to the team by hiring JJ Redick at head coach but kept most of their roster intact from the previous year. Davis is expected to begin the year in the frontcourt alongside Rui Hachimura and LeBron James, the same lineup they ended 2023-2024 with.

LeBron James: 'No Idea' If Steph Curry and I Will Ever Team Up Again After Olympics

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The Los Angeles Lakers are scheduled for two preseason games against the Golden State Warriors this week, and LeBron James spoke about his experience playing alongside Stephen Curry for Team USA at the Paris Olympics.

James said teaming up with Curry was "everything I dreamed of," but when asked about the possibility of the two of them wearing the same uniform again at some point, he responded, "I have no idea."

James and Curry were among the headliners on a star-studded Team USA roster that included fellow former NBA MVPs Kevin Durant and Joel Embiid as well as a slew of All-Stars like Devin Booker, Anthony Davis and Anthony Edwards. The team had a perfect 6-0 run through the Paris Olympics, earning its fifth straight gold medal.

James discussed the confidence that came with playing alongside Curry and Durant, saying "that type of firepower" made it nearly impossible for them to fail.

"How do you lose when you have three of the best players to ever play the game of basketball?" James asked.

Curry also spoke about the connection he developed with James during their time together in the Olympics.

"All the battles we've had on the court and the back and forth, the fact that we actually got to be teammates, not just in any game like an All-Star game or whatever, but in high stakes basketball with a lot on the line...I think there's a deepened respect and friendship there," he told Natasha Dye of People last month, adding, "Hopefully, there will be more experiences in the future, even if we're teammates or not."

Now, James and Curry will be back to vying for supremacy in a talented Western Conference during the 2024-25 campaign.

Does LeBron James Really Spend $1.5 Million Per Year On His Body?

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is entering an unprecedented campaign. There is no denying that he is still an elite player and one of the best in the league, yet he is entering his 22nd NBA season, tying Vince Carter for the most ever by a player.

In his 22nd season, Carter was a bench player without a guaranteed role for the Atlanta Hawks. So it remains a mystery how James had fended off Father Time and remained one of the best players in the league. It has been rumored, though, that part of James' secret is a multi-million dollar budget on things to take care of his body.

James finally got the chance to address these rumors in the Netflix series "Starting 5," following the lives of five NBA players during the 2023-24 season.

"I've heard this crazy notion about how much money I spend on my body per year and I kind of just chuckle. That is a number that I will not disclose, but more importantly, I think it's the time," James said.

LeBron, of course, probably spends significant amounts to take care of his body. It may not even be a number that he fully knows. But whatever he is doing to keep his play and his health at this level, he should continue doing so, as it has bought him and the Lakers extra years of good basketball.

It remains to be seen how much longer James is going to be able to fight off Father Time. The battle he has put on so far is perhaps the most impressive the sports world has ever seen. But he has already begun hinting at the retirement conversation, meaning that the battle is slowly coming to an end.

LeBron James is not only one of the greatest players to ever pick up a basketball, but also has his hands in a ton of off-court things. Quite simply, LeBron is one of the most influential athletes the world has ever known and he will continue to make a great impact long after his playing career is done.

In the world of fashion, the biggest night of the year is the Met Gala where all of the biggest names and faces from around the world come out. And in 2025, LeBron is now set to to be part of that as well.

On ESPN's NBA Today, Malika Andrews announced that James was named a co-chair of the 2025 Met Gala alongside the likes of actor Colman Domingo and F1 star Lewis Hamilton, among others.

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LeBron James Campaigning for Son Bronny to Have Own Call of Duty Character Skin; “Let’s Talk” Activision Says

While LeBron James might be one of the best basketball players of all-time, another feather the NBA legend can put in his cap is how in the coming NBA season, he will be the first player in league history to play alongside his son on the same floor. It seems the father and son duo are not stopping there, as they're now aiming to be in Call of Duty as well.

Over on Twitter, LeBron mentioned how his son Bronny wants to have his own operator skin in Call of Duty, and even tagged the official Activision and Call of Duty Twitter accounts to "talk" to him:

Not one to bypass a chance for more promotion, the official Call of Duty account replied that they want to talk to, and how the first father-son duo NBA history could be the first one in Call of Duty history as well.

Needless to say, not only is LeBron influential enough to get his own son drafted by the L.A. Lakers, but seems to have enough clout to get him into Call of Duty even. Chances are, Activision will integrate LeBron and Bronny as operator skins for the soon-to-be released Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, which should also be available to use in Call of Duty: Warzone.

Will We See LeBron and Bronny in Call of Duty?

Will this happen? Given LeBron is interested, Activision is also interested, I'd say yes. Once the legalities and money is out of the way, there's no stopping LeBron and his son from appearing in Call of Duty. They will probably be part of a cosmetic bundle to be sold, which means players have the choice of not buying it at all if they don't want to.

LeBron and his son won't be the first or more recent NBA player to make their way into Call of Duty. as we got Kevin Durant introduced in Modern Warfare 2 last year.

This isn't Bronny James' brush with video games as well, as just a few months ago, Bronny commented on what rating he felt he deserved in NBA 2K25.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be released this October 25 on the PS4, Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. Will we see LeBron and Bronny's operator skins drop soon after? Once we get more news about that, we'll let our readers know.

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Kai Cenat Couldn’t Stop Himself From Mimicking LeBron James After Trying Lakers Superstar’s Special Hennessy

Kai Cenat And LeBron James (Images Cred it: Getty Images)

LeBron James' new partnership with Hennessy has caught a lot of attention, but not just for the drink itself. Popular Twitch streamer Kai Cenat made the collaboration even more fun when he reviewed the LeBron Hennessy edition on his stream. After taking a sip of the cognac, Cenat hilariously mimicked one of LeBron's most famous moments from the 2020 NBA Bubble.

In that memorable game against the Portland Trail Blazers, LeBron James was caught on camera having a fun moment. He excitedly yelled, "It ain't our ball? It ain't our ball? It's our ball, ain't it… It's our ball!!!" when the Lakers realized they had possession of the ball. This moment quickly went viral and became one of LeBron's most popular memes, showing his energy and passion for the game.

Recently, Twitch streamer Kai Cenat decided to recreate this famous scene after trying Hennessy. He jokingly said, "LeBron, you thought they were going to put your DNA in some alcohol, and I wasn't going to try this sh*t? Are you telling me if I drink this, I become LeBron? 'Ain't that our ball?'… I feel taller."

His funny imitation had fans laughing, especially when he joked that drinking the cognac made him feel "taller," just like LeBron. This mix of humor and nostalgia brings back memories and keeps LeBron's lively spirit alive in popular culture.

Cenat and LeBron have a good friendship, which started during the 2024 Paris Olympics. The two met there when LeBron was leading Team USA to a gold medal. Cenat even shared a picture of them together, with the caption "Uh Oh," joking about their surprise meeting. The two also bond over video games, often playing NFL Madden together.

This funny moment on Cenat's stream is just another example of LeBron's off-court personality, which has kept him in the public eye for years. While LeBron continues to build his business empire with partnerships like his Hennessy and Lobos tequila brands, moments like these make fans feel connected to him in a fun and relatable way.

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LeBron and the Los Angeles Lakers are gearing up for the new season. The Lakers recently played their first preseason game, and while LeBron James' performance wasn't perfect, he put up 11 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists in just 16 minutes of play. Fans are excited to see how he and the team will perform as they prepare for the regular season.

Also Read: Skip Bayless Takes Brutal Shots At LeBron James For Complaining About The Lakers' Preseason Schedule 

Bronny, Bryce, and Zhuri James Clown Their Dad LeBron’s Feet: 'No Comment'

After years on the court, LeBron James ' feet are a bit strange looking—at least to his kids.

In a clip from Netflix 's new docuseries, Starting 5, Bron's three kids, Bronny , Bryce, and Zhuri hilariously commented on their dad's feet, with the two sons saying, "No comment," when asked.

"Everyone has seen his feet. You don't need to know more about that," Bronny added, as Zhuri's face was pinched with laughter. She then shared her two cents: "The funny, funny thing is when his toe is on top of the other one!"

The clip then cuts to a shot of LeBron's feet and him comparing them to a Porsche 911—certainly an interesting take.

Elsewhere in the doc, the iconic LA Laker and his wife, Savannah opened up about Bronny's medical emergency for the first time. In 2023, the now 20-year-old suffered cardiac arrest during a USC practice.

"I think at the end of the day, it was just about us supporting each other and just being super grateful for the outcome," Savannah said while tearing up.

"Shout out to the man above," LeBron added. "It's crazy with kids, when they love something and they want something, that's all that matters to them," he explained. "As a parent, you're like, 'You had a cardiac arrest, like...,' and in his mind he's like, 'Can I or can I not play ball again and if the answer is yes, when can I play ball again?'"

Last August, Bronny was diagnosed with an anatomically and functionally significant congenital heart defect.

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Following surgery, he was cleared to play again last November; he has since been drafted to the NBA and now plays alongside his dad for the Los Angeles Lakers.

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LeBron James Draws Criticism After Complaining About Flying to a Preseason Game in Milwaukee

"Can someone please explain to me why we're getting on a [plane] and heading to Milwaukee for one preseason game!?!?," James posted on social media

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LeBron James

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James drew the ire of some basketball fans when he took to social media to complain about having to fly to Milwaukee to play the Bucks.

In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), James voiced his frustration at flying to the Wisconsin city for a preseason away game against the Bucks. "Can someone please explain to me why we're getting on a [plane] and heading to Milwaukee for one preseason game!?!?" he wrote.

When another user commented that they were surprised he was flying at all, James responded with "I'm surprised myself."

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Many pointed out that preseason travel is part of the NBA process. In fact, one user sarcastically responded to James, writing, "Hey LeBron, it's greg. The reason for this is because if you were to drive there it would take 29 hours so I'm guessing your coaches thought it would be more efficient to fly. Hope this helps."

Per Yahoo! Sports, following the game at Fiserv Forum on Thursday, Oct. 10, the Lakers will begin to wind down their preseason schedule.

They have three remaining games, with the team playing the Golden State Warriors at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Oct. 15, followed by an away game against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday, Oct. 17 and a final preseason matchup against the Warriors hosted at the Chase Center in San Francisco.

Related: LeBron James Says He's 'Happy' in Los Angeles and Hopes to Retire with the Lakers: 'We'll See'

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LeBron James

Related: LeBron James Says First Few Weeks Playing with Son Bronny in NBA Has Brought Him 'Pure Joy'

The Lakers' regular NBA season kicks off on Tuesday, Oct. 22, with a home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at L.A.'s Crypto.com Arena.

There, James and his son, Bronny, will officially make their history-making debut as the first father and son to actively play on the same team after taking the court together for the first time during the Lakers' preseason game against the Suns on Oct. 6.

"It's pretty cool for the both of us, and especially for our family," James said of the moment.

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Tyrese Haliburton Spoke to LeBron James, Carmelo, Wade About 2024 Olympics Benching

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Tyrese Haliburton won his first Olympic gold medal with Team USA over the summer, but the Indiana Pacers star didn't get to contribute as much as he would have liked.

Haliburton appeared in just three games and played 26 minutes combined throughout the Olympics. That's a major adjustment for a workhorse who played 32.2 minutes per game for Indiana last season.

In an interview with The Athletic's James Boyd, Haliburton explained how it felt being benched.

"No, I never had that experience in my life," he said. "I think these are special circumstances, being surrounded by 11 of the greatest players in the world, so that's all a part of it."

The 24-year-old said he confided in a group of Team USA legends who once were in a similar position to him.

"For me, when you look at something like that, everybody has had to pay their dues at some point," Haliburton said. "I had a lot of conversations with (LeBron James), (Dwyane) Wade and (Carmelo Anthony) out there. Those guys all played in the 2004 Olympics and didn't really get to play a ton or as much as they wanted to. They kind of got a little taste of being benched."

While he didn't play much of a role on the court, ultimately Haliburton has something no one can take away from him: a gold medal.

"So, I think it's all a part of it. I'm not bigger than any one group, and I'm not too proud to check my ego at the door for a bigger goal," he said. "We won a gold medal, and I get to tell my kids that I was a part of one of the greatest teams ever assembled."

After Team USA won gold, Haliburton didn't have a bad attitude about his limited minutes. Instead, he leaned into the joke on social media.

Haliburton's time to lead Team USA will come. He will be 28 the next time Team USA puts together a squad for the Olympics, and if his career trajectory continues he'll likely be one of the first calls to join the team.

Haliburton is coming off the best seasons of his career, putting up 20.1 points and leading the league in assists with 10.9 per game. He took the Pacers to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2014 but ultimately came up short of bringing home a championship.

LeBron James Rips Lakers Minutes Restriction in Netflix Doc: 'Hate This S--t Already'

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Fans who recall the start of last season when the Los Angeles Lakers attempt to monitor LeBron James' minutes to preserve his body for the full 82-game schedule will not be surprised to learn the future Hall of Famer wasn't a fan of that approach.

In a scene from the Netflix Starting 5 documentary series, James is heard saying "I hate this s--t already" when talking about the Lakers' approach to his playing time during the season opener against the Denver Nuggets.

James only played 29 minutes in that game against the Nuggets, which the Lakers lost 119-107.

Then-head coach Darvin Ham told reporters after the game that "in all likelihood" they would continue to monitor James' minutes.

It wasn't a bad idea on the surface. James was the oldest player in the NBA during the 2023-24 campaign and missed 80 games in the previous three seasons combined due to injuries.

The minutes limit wound up lasting a total of one game. James was back up to 35 minutes in the Lakers' second game of the season against the Phoenix Suns. He told reporters afterward it was an "easy" call when Ham asked if he wanted to play the entire fourth quarter.

"I know how much work I've put in to be able to play quarters or whatever the case may be," James said. "And I understand that we definitely have a system put in place, but tonight called for me to go outside the box."

If you remove blowouts—in this case, games the Lakers won or lost by at least 15 points—the 29 minutes James played in the opener against the Nuggets were his fewest in a game last season. Even with blowouts factored in, it was the 10th-fewest minutes he played in a game during the 2023-24 campaign.

James finished the season averaging 35.3 minutes per game. It was the fourth-lowest average of his career, with the top three being his first three seasons in Los Angeles.

Taking away the minutes restriction after just one game didn't have much of an impact on James' availability. His 71 games played were his most in a single season since his final season with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017-18 when he started all 82 games.

Now that James is 40 years old going into his 22nd season, it will be interesting to see if new Lakers head coach JJ Redick tries to implement a minutes plan for the four-time MVP.

If history is any indication, even if Redick wants to do that, James will quickly override the decision.