When Anthony Davis stepped onto the court at Smoothie King Center Monday night, the boos were loud, the message clear. This was no warm welcome back to New Orleans.
Once the face of the Pelicans franchise, Davis has long since become a symbol of what could’ve been-a star who asked out and found a championship elsewhere. Now wearing a Mavericks jersey after a February blockbuster trade, Davis didn’t flinch at the noise.
If anything, he answered with his game.
And what a response it was.
Davis dropped a dominant 35-point, 17-rebound double-double, reminding everyone in the building exactly why he was once the cornerstone of the Pelicans’ future. But even that wasn’t enough to get Dallas over the hump. The Mavericks fell 119-113 to a surging New Orleans squad that’s now riding a five-game win streak and playing some of its best basketball of the season.
The Pelicans didn’t just win-they did it with balance. Six players hit double figures, and Zion Williamson, coming off the bench, led the way with 24 points, nine boards, and three assists.
It was a vintage performance from the 2019 No. 1 overall pick, the same player New Orleans drafted just days after shipping Davis to Los Angeles. Six seasons in, Zion’s playoff résumé now matches Davis’ during his Pelicans tenure: two trips apiece.
That’s not lost on anyone watching this team evolve into a legitimate threat in the West.
For Dallas, the loss stung-not just because of the standings, but because of how much they leaned on Davis to carry the load. Injuries have thinned out the Mavericks’ frontcourt rotation, and that’s pushed Davis into the center role-something he’s never been particularly fond of.
He’s said it before: he sees himself as a power forward. But right now, he’s logging heavy minutes at the five, not out of preference, but necessity.
Mavs head coach Jason Kidd acknowledged the situation postgame. “He’s playing at the 5 right now, and at some point here down the road, I think we’ll get him back to the 4,” Kidd said. That shift can’t come soon enough for Davis, who’s been grinding through mismatches and extra physicality in the paint.
The absence of Dereck Lively II, who’s out for the season following surgery on his right foot, has only complicated matters. Lively was supposed to be the interior anchor, the rim protector who let Davis roam and create chaos from the four spot. Without him, Davis has had to shoulder more of the dirty work inside.
And then there’s the noise swirling off the court. Reports suggest the Mavericks are open to listening to offers for Davis-an eyebrow-raising development considering he hasn’t even completed a full season in Dallas.
Whether that’s a sign of long-term uncertainty or just standard front office due diligence remains to be seen. What’s clear is this: Davis is still producing at an elite level, even while playing out of position, even in hostile environments like New Orleans.
Monday night was a reminder of who Anthony Davis is and what he can still be. But it was also a statement from the Pelicans-this team isn’t looking back.
With Zion healthy and the supporting cast clicking, New Orleans is starting to look like the team fans have been waiting for since Davis left. And for one night, they made sure to let him know it.