Anthony Davis believes his relationship with New Orleans Pelicans fans may never improve. He recently admitted he is still viewed as a villain, even years after his departure from the franchise.
Davis’ professional career began in New Orleans in June 2012, when the franchise selected him with the first overall pick in the NBA Draft. He spent seven seasons with the team before being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.
While his move eventually secured an NBA championship, it left a bitter aftertaste among Pelicans fans. That tension remains palpable each time he returns to the team’s home arena.
During a recent appearance on “The Draymond Green Show,” Davis addressed the boos he still receives whenever he steps into the Smoothie King Center.
“So now, because I want to win, I'm considered a villain to this team and to this fanbase,” the All-Star forward said. “To this day, I go back, and they still boo me (in New Orleans).”
Green defended Davis during the segment. The Golden State Warriors forward argued that the franchise should show more gratitude toward the best player in its history.
“That’s why they’re still losing,” Green said. “You don’t boo the best player in your franchise history; you appreciate ’em.”
Davis remains the Pelicans’ all-time leader in points, rebounds, and blocks. He averaged 23.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks across 466 games in New Orleans.
Davis also revealed the specific moment that ended any possibility of a future reunion with the team. He recalled telling Pelicans owner Gayle Benson before the trade that he might return late in his career. However, the franchise’s decision to skip a formal tribute during his first game back as an opponent changed his mind.
“When I went back, I did not get a tribute, and that was the final straw. Never got a tribute,” the veteran forward said. “When the trade happened before the deadline, I told Ms. Benson … this might not be the end—that later in my career, maybe I could come back … and try to do something special.
“I left that door open. But when I went back for that first game and got no tribute, I said, ‘That door is closed,’” he added.
The relationship soured in January 2019 when Davis declined a contract extension and requested a trade. Despite his personal success on the court, the Pelicans did not win an NBA championship with the 6-foot-10 big man. The team made the playoffs only twice and never advanced past the second round.
His journey since leaving New Orleans has been a whirlwind of roster shifts and major trades. The Lakers traded him to the Dallas Mavericks in February 2025 in a blockbuster deal for star guard Luka Doncic. He spent one year in Dallas before the team moved him to the Washington Wizards.
The 2025-26 NBA season is winding down without Davis appearing on the court for his new team. The 33-year-old suffered ligament damage in his left hand on Jan. 8 during the Mavericks’ loss to the Utah Jazz.
The Wizards announced on Tuesday that Davis has been shut down for the remainder of the regular season.
