
Layne Murdoch Jr./Getty Images
It turns out New Orleans Pelicans fans haven’t taken too kindly to Anthony Davis’ desire to leave their team.
Returning to the lineup for the first time since Jan. 18, Davis was overwhelmingly booed by Pelicans fans at the Smoothie King Center prior to Friday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves:
-
The Kyrie and LeBron Bromance Is Back!
-
Bats Have Become an Unexpected Attraction at Spurs Games
-
KD Giving Back to His Hometown with Durant Center
-
Four Years Ago, Klay Drops Record 37 Pts in One Quarter
-
Remembering the Night Kobe Scored 81 Points
-
Happy 37th Birthday Dwyane Wade
-
Steph Is a Few Shots Away from NBA 3-Point History
-
Can Harden Keep His Dominance Going?
-
Steph Gifts Fan Who Asked for Girls UA Kicks with New Curry 6s
-
Happy 34th Birthday to LeBron 👑
-
4 Years Ago, Kobe Passed Jordan on the NBA Scoring List
-
Drummond and Embiid Reignite Rivalry
-
Happy 24th Birthday to Giannis Antetokounmpo
-
D-Rose Turned Back the Clock and Put Up 50
-
Dubs Trolled Fergie So Hard It Became a Challenge
-
CP3-Rondo Blowup Was a Long Time Coming
-
NBA Let Players Know They Have to Cover Branded Tattoos
-
The NBA Is Back and the Soccer World Is Pumped
-
Boban Is Back to Break It Down for Another Season
-
Players Battle Campers in Rivalry of the Summer
Will Guillory @WillGuillory
Loud boos for Anthony Davis during pregame intros https://t.co/Ozvbi6tTSc
The news wasn’t all bad for Davis, though. ESPN’s Michael C. Wright noted the six-time All-Star heard cheers when he put the ball in the basket:
“Talk about awkward. Every time Anthony Davis touches the ball, he’s booed. But when he’s pouring in those buckets like the two he’s scored in the first quarter, everybody cheers loudly; especially on his last make, a nasty step-back jumper. New Orleans’ pre-game hype video included Davis this time, though. And when he was announced in the starting lineup, there was a mixture of cheers and boos. Clearly, this is a somewhat divided or confused fan base here at the Smoothie King Center. It’s been a wild ride since news of Davis’ trade demands surfaced.”
Despite requesting a trade from the Pelicans last month, Davis will finish this season with the team after Thursday’s deadline passed without a deal materializing.
This is certainly an uncomfortable situation for Davis and the Pelicans to find themselves in. It’s going to make for an awkward two months of games, but both sides will have to work through it to salvage something from what’s been a disappointing 2018-19 campaign for New Orleans.