If any star players around the league are looking for ways to make their previous teams' fan base hate them, take notes from Anthony Davis. The former New Orleans Pelicans superstar already left a bad taste in the mouths of Pelicans fans with the way he exited during the 2019 offseason, and things have only gotten worse after his recent appearance on The Draymond Green Show.
During his appearance, AD and Green talked a lot about his time in and departure from New Orleans, and Davis tried to play the victim. Davis spoke out about how he always thought he would end up back in a Pelicans jersey at some point in his career, but the organization's decision not to give him a tribute video ruined that.
He also went on to claim that if the front office had selected Ja Morant first overall in the 2019 draft, he would've stayed with New Orleans.
Davis may fool some younger Pels fans with these claims, but those who lived through his entire saga in New Orleans can only laugh.
Davis’ comments reopen old wounds
Davis' departure from New Orleans really began during the 2018 offseason, when DeMarcus Cousins, coming off an Achilles injury, decided to join Golden State. This left the front office scrambling, as just a season and a half ago, they had mortgaged their future to pair Boogie with Davis in the frontcourt. When the offseason concluded and the 2018-19 regular season started, it was obvious something was missing, and the Pelicans needed their star to step up more than ever.
Without hesitation, Davis publicly demanded a trade out of the Big Easy, hoping to put pressure on the front office to trade him to LA. He was eventually shut down to avoid injury, and the Pelicans would miss the playoffs.
Davis never gave New Orleans a chance to adjust or try to retool a new roster around him. When the going got tough, Davis opted to walk out.
So, for what reason did the Pelicans owe Davis a tribute? Did he win anything in New Orleans? No. Did he ever get past the first round? Once, just to lose in five games. Did he win anything before Boogie's arrival? No. Did he handcuff a small-market team into trading him to LA? Yes.
For him to follow up the claims of feeling disrespected with a blatant lie that if Morant were to pick No. 1 instead of Zion Williamson, he would stay is comical. Considering he requested a trade in January of 2019 and the Pelicans didn't know they would be picking No. 1 until the Summer.
His entire appearance on The Draymond Green Show paints an even clearer picture of why the fan base will never hold the respect it once did for AD. Instead of taking accountability for his part in a messy situation, he'd rather pass the blame on to everyone else.