LeBron James has responded angry with the statements that he wanted Anthony Davis out of the Los Angeles Lakers, after his seismic trade to the Dallas Mavericks was announced on Saturday night.
The Lakers are sending Davis, a first round of 2029 and Max Christie to the Mavericks, in exchange for Luka Doncic, one of the NBA stars, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris.
The news shook the sports world to the center, far beyond the NBA. But it is, without a doubt, one of the greatest trades in the history of the NBA.
Bill Reiter, NBA's privileged information for CBS, told his channel that he had heard last year in the Lakers organization that James was frustrating with Davis.
'It was not that the announcement was exchanged, it was just something to monitor. LeBron is frustrated with AD and does not believe he is working, “Reiter said.
James, 40, responded abruptly in X, responding to the video clip with a pinocchio emoji and a clown emoji plus the comment: '¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡
LeBron James has criticized the claims that he wanted Anthony Davis to leave the Lakers
James attacked a journalist who said he had frustrated his teammate Davis
James scored 33 points in Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday night when his team beat the Knicks 128-112. Davis did not appear in the game.
But James himself apparently only learned about the deal while he was on dinner with his family after victory over the New York Knicks.
“James was surprised by the news, he is processing him and had no idea what he was in process,” said ESPN Dave McMenamin reporter early on Sunday morning.
According to ESPN, commercial conversations were instigated by the Mavericks. Both Davis and Doncic also did not know the news in advance, they said.
Doncic, 25, has not played since Christmas day after leaving his team's game against the Timberwolves with a calf tension.
And the Doncic movement suggests that the Lakers are marking the beginning of a new era with Doncic surely in the row to lead the team every time James, 40, retires.
The Lakers, fifth at the West Conference, face the Mavericks in Los Angeles on February 25.