Anthony Davis has opened the door, if only slightly, to a reunion with LeBron James. Speaking with reporter Chase Coburn at Michael Rubin’s Fanatics Fest, the Washington Wizards center acknowledged that he and James have discussed the possibility of teaming up again, though he stopped short of predicting it would actually happen. His response suggested the idea has come up between the two friends without confirming any real momentum toward Washington.
James, 41, is once again at the center of NBA free agency speculation as he weighs what could be the final stop of his long career. He is expected to reveal his decision within the next week, and reporting around the league has consistently placed Washington outside the group of frontrunners. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors and Philadelphia 76ers have been named most often as the teams with the best shot at landing him.
A partnership built in Los Angeles
Davis and James spent six seasons together with the Los Angeles Lakers, forming one of the most successful duos in recent NBA history and capturing the 2020 championship inside the pandemic bubble in Orlando, with James taking home Finals MVP honors. Their partnership ended when Davis was dealt to the Dallas Mavericks as part of the trade that sent Luka Doncic to Los Angeles. Davis later landed in Washington via a deadline trade in February.
Despite no longer sharing a locker room, the two have stayed close, and their friendship has repeatedly fueled speculation that they could join forces again somewhere down the line. Golden State has also been floated as a potential landing spot where both players could reunite, with some reports suggesting the Warriors weighed a blockbuster trade for Davis as an added incentive to lure James. Washington chose to keep Davis rather than explore such a move this offseason.
Wizards signal they intend to keep Davis
Wizards general manager Will Dawkins addressed the swirling trade rumors around Davis during an appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio, indicating that Davis is happy in the nation’s capital and that the franchise has no plans to move him. Dawkins pointed to Anthony being present for the team’s offseason work alongside the rest of the roster and described the front office’s focus as building a talented, competitive group heading into next season.
The Wizards are coming off a rough 19 win campaign, one complicated by Trae Young appearing in just five games and Davis missing most of the year after his midseason arrival. The front office is banking on Davis anchoring a young core that includes top pick AJ Dybantsa, Young, Bilal Coulibaly, Alex Sarr, Tre Johnson, Kyshawn George and Deandre Ayton, with hopes of returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
Whether or not James ultimately considers Washington a real option, Davis’s comments have added a new layer of intrigue to an already crowded free agency storyline. For now, all signs point to Anthony staying put in Washington regardless of where his former teammate lands, while the basketball world waits to see which contender James chooses as he closes in on a decision expected within days.
