Anthony “That’s All Folks” Davis ruined his reasons for leaving Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans played their last game of the season without Anthony Davis. His message before the game negates all the reasons he pushed for a trade to begin with.

If you’re reading this, you’re likely a New Orleans Pelicans fan; part of the family. Anthony Davis has removed himself from the family, and in doing so ruined all of his reasons for wanting to leave in the first place.

Maybe you’re even an Anthony Davis fan, though that’s highly unlikely. Spoiled adults with thin skin and multiple commas in their paycheck only get the benefit of the doubt for so long.

Especially when given the option of signing the NBA’s version of a Godfather offer, only without the Luca Brasi gun part of the deal.

Anthony Davis had that benefit in New Orleans. Though the Pelicans front office failed to put a contender around him, it wasn’t for lack of trying. Fans recognized this, and so Davis and his immense talent that was always sidelined with minor injuries was given a certain political capital.

Many fans took Davis’ trade demands as the business that it was. Davis had to make a move, or so someone told him. It was an arguable position, but the manner in which the trade was demanded soured some of us on Davis. Some still understood, “it’s just business.”

Perhaps that is why Klutch Sports, Davis’ agency, acted as the Lebron James-led proxy, to act not only as a conduit for a trade but also a buffer. Davis signed with Klutch to find more endorsement opportunities; he signed to market the new version of Anthony Davis that countered the quiet, affability persona he built in New Orleans.

Buffers. The family has lots of buffers.

Walking out of the Smoothie King Center before tip-off removed all of the buffers from negativity left for Davis.

Brands looking for athletes to endorse their products want stars that are loved, that bring positive thoughts regardless of the product or situation. Davis has done nothing to “Level Up” as a brand this season.

It was obvious he was not playing at his best, consciously or not. Davis has always let minor, nagging injuries send him to the locker room. But that’s not the point, really.

Davis said he explained his trade demand to his Pelicans teammates. He said he would be there with them fighting on the court despite the business in the background. Davis said these guys were brothers. You know, family.

His “That’s All Folks” shirt he wore to his final game in New Orleans was a message to them. Now we know, while Jrue was leading the family, it was Davis who had to go all along. Check the end of season players polls: Jrue is the Pelicans’ People’s Champ.

Davis’ new heel turn, “rub-it-in” move with this t-shirt just alienated his last morsel of a fanbase this side of the Laker Nation. Anyone thinking the shirt is just an ode Space Jam 2, well, Giannis is just the biggest name to decline a spot in that remake. 

It’s ultimately for the best that Davis did the new general manager a favor by requesting a trade this season. Now, New Orleans can use Davis as an asset to be dealt and return great rebuilding pieces, instead of trying to keep him into his free agency next summer only to lose him for nothing. There would have been moves to be made this offseason to add another difference maker, but Davis got more and more impatient with former Dell Demps leading up to the trade deadline.

Davis isn’t built to be the alpha, the lead, for any team or brand. Kyrie Irving or Lebron James will still be the lead on Davis’ preferred destinations if he ends up in Los Angeles or Boston.

Anthony Davis lost his chance at being a huge brand by doing some Looney Tunes nonsense, on and off the court. He did so all season up until the very end, while the rest of the NBA was out playing for that “legacy” thing Davis is said to cherish.

Legacy does not require one be compared to retired GOATs Jordan, Kareem, or Kobe. Look at the outpouring of love for Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki last night. That is legacy. No city will trust Davis enough to give him that type of legacy now.

He never wanted to “disrespect the city” and wanted to keep the trade demand private (allegedly). Everything Anthony Davis “wanted” is now out of grasp. He disrespected his team, coaches, and fans all in less than a season.

Davis might someday see how out of touch he’s been. He talks the “want” of a champion, but has yet to show championship actions, only childish ones.

It’s time to hire a GM and move on. New Orleans will have the ability to build a contender sooner rather than later. Not as quickly as Anthony Davis can abandon ship, but quicker than Davis can rebuild his reputation.

This Anthony Davis debacle of an exit has possibly, just maybe, cost one legend with an actual legacy some of his peace of mind. To believe the New Orleans Pelicans or new endorsers are going to seek that association is some Looney Tunes thinking.