Mark your calendars. You will be forced to watch a cinema on April 9th. The usual visual of Anthony Davis assisting LeBron James is now a thing of the past. It pains to imagine yourself in those shoes. The visuals feel like a love triangle, and it still gives flashbacks. And it is returning. The Lakers and the Mavericks meet for the second time since the blockbuster trade saw Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis swap teams. The first meeting was a 107-99 win for LA that saw Doncic record a triple-double against his old team. But that was at the Crypto.com Arena. You just know the emotions will be running high when the rematch happens at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, but doubts over the support still loom. But is that the case for Davis, reuniting with his old teammate LeBron James? Absolutely not.

Fox Sports NBA reporter Melissa Rohlin asked Davis after their 135-104 loss to the Clippers about his emotions coming into the Lakers game. Guess what he had to say before meeting his former ‘buddy’ in his new home? “No emotions.” Yes, this is calm and composed. He might’ve won the championship, gotten 5 All-Star caps, an NBA Cup, and even an Olympic Gold for his country during his time at the Showtime. But AD knows best: he’s now a Mavericks player, and the past is irrelevant ahead of the clash on 9th April.

A lot of water has flown since the February trade. Exactly two months. A new city, and Davis now comes against his old mate. A bond that seemed unshakeable has now woken up to reality, the reality of business. Now donning the Mavericks’ royal blue and black, he knows that his defensive duties will have to be on point against LeBron, a man whom he knows all too well and he can’t let it slip, at least not in front of the crowd that was sold the dream of championship from his shoulders.

He missed the last game against his former team due to injury. 18 games missed due to a groin problem, which was sustained during his debut a week after his trade. The Mavs fans were disappointed- they knew trading in a future top-20 player like Luka for a 32-year-old Davis was not the way to go if they were to top last season’s NBA Finals loss. But AD has proved his worth since his return, averaging 20.6/9.6/3.4 in 7 games, shooting 45.5% from the field.

The Mavericks’ next game is the Lakers, surprisingly as it’s three days away. The Lakers, meanwhile, have a double-header against the Thunder coming up, arguably the best team this season. But the Mavs are missing out on a key player in the lineup: Kyrie Irving. The man could single-handedly win it for Dallas in his days. And he’s played with LeBron James before, just like AD. That knowledge would’ve come in handy going against the King himself, but they’ll have to rely on AD’s experience alone.

You know what they say, though, if you’re going up against the King, you better not miss. And Anthony Davis has the perfect recipe for shooting flawlessly against the Lakers.

Anthony Davis reveals what the Mavs need going up against LeBron James and the Lakers

The Brow will be twitching, going up against his former team for sure. He’s been there, done that multiple times. But it’s not the same for his current team. Their season has been their worst in a long time. It seems like the time since Dallas’ final appearance 10 months ago has been a fever dream for their supporters. To impede their growing pains, AD has a stern message for his locker room.

“Just play hard. I mean, whoever’s on the floor, you gotta just play hard. Energy and effort- next play mentality… But, you know, giving up. I don’t even know how many points they had- 139-140, whatever it is. That’s not our team. We’re better than than that,” said Davis in the post-game presser.

As much as he’d hate to admit it, this has been the new Dallas reality. They’re currently 9th in the West with a 38/41 record. They’ve lost the last two games- the last one being a humiliating 114-91 show against the Clippers. Naji Marshall seemed like the only one playing for the win. With a wealth of experience on his back, Davis is hoping to turn these exact fortunes around and bring the Mavs their second-ever championship ring.

LA will be dreaded and weary coming into the American Airlines Center. If the Mavericks want to make a statement win, there’s no better time than April 9th. Do you think Anthony Davis can help Dallas to future success despite a harrowing present time?