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[Saba Sports News] Anthony Davis found himself in an awkward spot on Friday, having to address the backlash over the blockbuster trade that sent him to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Luka Doncic.
Introduced to the Dallas media, Davis was asked about the overwhelmingly negative fan reaction. He acknowledged the frustration but made a bold statement about his plans for his new team.
“I understand it. Obviously, it’s a business, and I get who Luka was to this franchise, to this city,” Davis said. “I’m never going to downplay that, just like how I know what I meant to the city of L.A. I’m not surprised by the fans’ reaction.”
Davis emphasized that his job is to play basketball and prove why Dallas made the move.
“I don’t know how tomorrow’s going to be as far as the reaction. I can’t control that. What I can control is going out and winning basketball games and helping the team. At the end of the day, I’m going to give the city life back.”
Davis is in a tough position through no fault of his own. The trade has been so controversial that the Mavericks are even refunding season tickets. While some argue that Davis makes Dallas better in the short term, the long-term consequences of losing Doncic could haunt the franchise.
Davis will make his Mavericks debut on Saturday against Houston, and all eyes will be on the crowd’s reaction. But he’s confident he can win over the fans—one game at a time.