Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis has spoken out about the recent trade rumors involving his teammate LeBron James and the Golden State Warriors. Following a shootaround before a preseason game against the Warriors in Las Vegas on October 15, Davis dismissed the speculation, emphasizing that it did not impact him or the team.
Davis Dismisses Trade Talk
In an interview with ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Davis said, “I don’t think it affected anybody. That might be the first time he was on the trade talks in his career. I don’t think it affected him. It didn’t affect our team. But it was strange to hear that it was the first time he’d been talked about in a trade.”
Davis expressed relief that no trade occurred, highlighting his loyalty to the Lakers and the team’s current roster. The rumors reportedly began when Warriors owner Joe Lacob, encouraged by Draymond Green—James’ friend and fellow Klutch Sports client—reached out to Lakers president Jeanie Buss. However, Buss made it clear that the Lakers had no intention of trading their star player.
LeBron James Reacts to Trade Interest
LeBron James also addressed the trade rumors, stating they “didn’t go far at all.” In an interview with the Inside the NBA crew on TNT, he shared that he only became aware of the discussions through media reports. “I actually heard about it when everybody else heard about it … It never even got to me,” James noted.
Klutch Sports CEO Steps In
Rich Paul, the CEO of Klutch Sports and James’ agent, quickly shot down the Warriors’ interest. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Paul intervened to protect James’ reputation, advising both teams to abandon the discussions. This move was designed to insulate James from potential criticism for changing teams for the fourth time in his career.
Other Teams Inquiring About James
The Warriors were not the only team interested in LeBron James. The Philadelphia 76ers also reached out regarding a potential trade. Following James’ cryptic social media post hinting at uncertainty, 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey contacted Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka. However, Pelinka swiftly rejected the inquiry, humorously asking if Joel Embiid was available instead, which ended the conversation.
