“LA will always have a special place in my heart,” wrote Anthony Davis in the caption of the video that marked his tenure alongside the Los Angeles Lakers squad. Three days ago, the Center was not even amongst the speculated trade prospects. Then, he became the name associated with one of the most historical NBA deals of the last decade after he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Luka Doncic.

ESPN’s Shams Charania was able to put the impact of the deal into words when he said “LeBron James had no idea this was coming. Anthony Davis had no idea this was coming. I’m sure Luka Doncic is still stunned about this trade.” Despite the shock, Anthony Davis has been nothing but graceful in his recent remarks. However, a single action from his side may convince fans that there is more than what meets the eye.

In the aftermath of the Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade, several fans joined the NBA players in expressing their reaction to the news. One Instagram user by the name of Devin Boyd (Devin Boyd) uploaded a video that kicked off with Davis’s Lakers jersey lying on the grass. Boyd then proceeded to go near it with a lighter. He flicked it, but then put it away before the flame could come out. Boyd then put a sign near the jersey that read “They did you dirty bro…. Thanks 4 3verything”. The post caught Anthony Davis’s attention, and he even liked it! Woah!

Since Shams Charania broke the trade news, Anthony Davis did not say anything to indicate he was upset. Or disappointed. From his video message on Instagram to the clip he recorded with Max Christie, the Center showed nothing but gratefulness for the next phase of his NBA career. A single like is also not always enough to create a whole scenario. What if Anthony Davis simply appreciated the gesture and the affection the fan had for him. However, that one like may confirm that Anthony Davis was disappointed with the trade.

The shift was certainly not something that NBA enthusiasts saw coming. After all, Anthony Davis’s six-year journey with the Lakers saw him serving as an efficient right-hand to LeBron James. The Center covered for the All-Time Scorer in the rare instances that the latter was unavailable to play. He was not a perfect player, since injuries affected his performance and availability on several occasions. Despite this, he was a valued member of the LA community. He seldom refrained from praising his teammates. His commitment to the team was seen when Davis donated $20,000 to aid a Lakers video producer whose parents lost their homes in the California Wildfires.

LeBron James is 40 years old now. His playing days are drawing to a close. Therefore, there was growing speculation that the Lakers would rebuild around Anthony Davis after the 4x Champion’s exit. Well, that won’t be happening now, will it? Davis’s connection with the LA Community and the Lakers makes this trade only more heartbreaking and emotional. Due to this, if the player himself is disappointed with how things turned out, then no one can blame him. After all, if Luka Doncic’s father can be upset at the player’s now-former team, then why can’t Davis?

Luka Doncic’s father attacks Mavs’ ‘hypocrisy’ after historic trade

The trade was something that Luka Doncic also did not want for himself. As reported by Ben Rodgers, “Luka was blindsided by this trade. That he had no idea this was coming. This is NOT something that he asked for. This was not his choice. He had zero idea.” However, just like Anthony Davis, Luka Doncic took a graceful approach to things. Davis may have revealed his true feelings through a single like. However, the Slovenian’s father revealed Luka’s true feelings to the entire world.

Saša Dončić recently sat down for an interview with Arena Sport 1. The 50-year-old did not hold back during the segment and went all out at the Dallas Mavericks. When translated, his remarks highlighted him saying “I understand there comes a moment when you disagree with a certain philosophy. You don’t like this or that player, all good – I get it. But I think that exactly this secrecy, or should I say from some individuals, maybe even hypocrisy, this hurts me personally. Because I think that Luka absolutely doesn’t deserve this.”

This may be a reference to how there wasn’t even a single indication of Luka Doncic being in trade talks before the deal was finalized. Being the face of the Dallas Mavericks, and the player who led the team to the NBA Finals for the first time in over a decade, the Slovenian was as safe as one could be. For this trade to be initiated by the people who Luka trusted, Sasa was willing to paint his son’s former team’s ‘hypocrisy’.

“You traded him, stand by your actions but don’t look for excuses or alibis, that’s it” Sasa continued.

It remains to be seen just what impact this trade will have not only on the Lakers or the Mavericks but on the NBA as a whole.