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Anthony Davis Says 'Nothing Has Changed' in Relationship with LeBron James After Trade


Anthony Davis' surprising trade to the Dallas Mavericks didn't affect his bond with Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James.

"He texts me all the time," Davis told Andscape's Marc J. Spears. "[James' chief of staff] Randy [Mims] hit me. Actually, they both just hit me. Vando [Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt] did. We still talk to those guys. I've been with [James] the longest, six-and-a-half years. We've been really close, but nothing has changed."

Davis and James were teammates in Los Angeles from 2019 until he was included in the blockbuster trade that resulted in superstar forward Luka Dončić heading to the Lakers on Feb. 2.

Dallas also received Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick.

ESPN's Shams Charania reported that James and Davis both had "no idea" that the trade was occurring until it was finalized.

The NBA's all-time leading scorer revealed that the first thing he did after news of the trade broke was talk to his former co-star.

"I thought it was a hoax, people messing around, whatever," James told reporters on Feb. 5. "But then when AD called me, AD FaceTimed me, and I talked to him for quite a while. Even when I got off the phone with him it still didn't seem real."

The four-time MVP also refuted reports that a rift between himself and Davis played a role in the shocking swap.

In 312 total regular-season appearances with Los Angeles, Davis averaged 24.8 points and 11.0 rebounds to go along 2.2 blocks per game while shooting 53.2 percent from the field.

He earned four All-Star nods for his efforts as a member of the Lakers and finished No. 6 in 2019-20 MVP voting.

James and Davis made the playoffs on four separate occasions during their shared tenure in Los Angeles, winning a championship in 2020.

While the pair may no longer be teammates, the sudden trade hasn't affected their relationship.

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