Jeanie Buss Reflects on Anthony Davis Trade and the Fine Line of NBA Tampering
Los Angeles Lakers owner and president Jeanie Buss recently opened up about her emotions following the blockbuster trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Luka Doncic. While the deal sent shockwaves through the league, Buss emphasized that parting ways with Davis was anything but easy, both professionally and personally.
In an interview with SiriusXM NBA Radio’s Rob Perez, Buss revealed that she hasn’t yet seen Davis since the trade. She admitted she’s looking forward to reconnecting with the former Lakers superstar but must be cautious due to the league’s strict tampering rules. “I haven’t seen him face-to-face, and I look forward to in the offseason,” Buss said. “But you have to remember he’s now under contract to another team; we’ve had too many instances of people accusing us of tampering, so I have to really be careful.”
Davis, who spent six years with the Lakers, played a pivotal role in helping the franchise capture its 17th NBA title and made multiple All-Star and All-NBA appearances during his time in L.A. His contributions cemented a strong emotional bond between him and the organization—something Buss acknowledged made the trade even harder.
Despite that connection, Buss explained that the franchise wasn’t actively seeking to move Davis. “We were not looking to trade Anthony Davis,” she said. “Dallas contacted us. And [Davis] had been making it clear that he wasn’t happy, that he was having to play the center. He wanted to play the power forward.”
The magnitude of the deal—landing Luka Doncic, a generational talent—forced the Lakers to act. It was a calculated move, one kept highly confidential to avoid any leaks that could have jeopardized the negotiation. Ultimately, Buss viewed the deal as necessary to ensure the Lakers’ long-term competitiveness.
Though Davis now finds himself in a tough spot, joining a team fresh off losing their cornerstone, Buss expressed hope that his legacy in L.A. will endure—possibly even with his jersey one day hanging in the rafters of Crypto.com Arena.
