“Bron and I are for sure motivated to win another championship,” Anthony Davis shared with Shams Charania before the heartbreaking trade. Little did he know that dream would still be there, but in two different colors now. A desire that shattered in minutes. The trade came out of nowhere, pulling the rug from under Davis’ feet. He packed up his things and moved to Dallas, but can he leave behind LA memories? Only time will tell, but there was one thing he surely took with him — a reminder that he’s still not over LeBron James.

Davis suited up for the first time in the blue and white jersey on Saturday against the Rockets, making a lasting impact in the 116-105 victory with his 26-16-7 stat line. Besides this, there was something else that grabbed the attention of the 20,000 American Airlines Center crowd. It was his shoes. The blue pair was the “Monopoly” LeBron 22 that came out in late January. A reflection that the betrayal hadn’t affected his bond with LeBron.

Davis has been vocal about his preference to play the power forward position rather than center. And as he got sidelined due to injuries, it seemed like the Lakers were searching for a center to fill the void. Then, out of nowhere, they traded him for Luka Doncic — something that shocked the 31-year-old, just as much as it did to the rest of the NBA community. But that’s what the hungry Lakers front office is known for—business over emotions.

He might not have expressed his emotions yet, but it’s natural for Davis to feel betrayed by the franchise he spent over five seasons with. However, his chemistry with LeBron went far beyond the hardwood. The now Mavs’ big man made sure that their bond still stands strong amid rumors blaming LeBron for his departure. And how did he do that? With this simple gesture. While the trade was undoubtedly a shocker for Davis, it was just as difficult for the 4x NBA champion.

LeBron James opens up about Anthony Davis trade

LeBron and Davis shared a strong bond, with the duo holding up the LA franchise together for years. And then, just like that, it was all taken away. “My emotions were all over the place,” the 40-year-old said, expressing how difficult it was to process the whole situation.

“Obviously we were just coming off a huge win in the Garden. You guys have seen the report, I was out with my family at dinner and got the news,” LeBron recalled, saying the trade news broke during the Lakers’ game against the Knicks. “The first time I heard it, I thought it was for sure fake. I thought it was a hoax. People messing around or whatever.” But it wasn’t just LeBron alone; many believed it was bait, and some assumed Charania’s account was hacked!

“But 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. Pretty much didn’t seem real until I saw Luka today, and then I saw the clip of AD at the Dallas shootaround. That’s when it finally hit me, like, ‘This is real,’” the shocked number 23 added. “It was shocking when I heard the news, but at the end of the day, I understand the business of basketball.”

Now, that reality has surely settled in, even though it might be hard to digest. But beyond the emotions, there are business perspectives that come into play, and that’s the harsh truth. It’s a new chapter for everyone. Anthony Davis has made his debut, but LeBron and Doncic are still waiting for their turn to team up on the court. When that moment finally arrives, it will signal a fresh beginning altogether. And who knows, today’s criticism becomes a masterstroke tomorrow.