TITLE: Austin Reaves Thanks Anthony Davis After Lakers Defeat Mavericks 129-119
SLUG: austin-reaves-thanks-anthony-davis-after-lakers-defeat-mavericks-129-119
CONTENT:
LOS ANGELES — Anthony Davis returned to Crypto.com Arena on Friday night, Nov. 28, 2025, wearing Dallas Mavericks blue for the first time against his former club, the Los Angeles Lakers. After a tight contest, Los Angeles pulled away for a 129-119 victory led by Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Davis, who had missed the previous month with a calf strain, logged his first game action since the injury while attempting to re-establish his two-way impact. Once the final horn sounded, he and Reaves met at mid-court to swap jerseys in a show of mutual respect.
Reaves on Davis: “I owe him a lot”
Speaking with reporters, Reaves explained what the exchange meant to him.
“I mean, he’s one of the best players to ever touch a basketball,” the guard said. “So, I don’t know why he wanted my jersey. But for me to get his is pretty fun… I got a lot of love for AD; he’s a big reason that I’m where I’m at right now. From Day 1, he was telling me to be myself, don’t be anybody else, continue to work and really just be myself on the court. So, I owe him a lot. Yeah, wish him nothing but the best.”
Davis spent seven seasons in Los Angeles, winning the 2020 NBA championship alongside LeBron James. When Reaves arrived as an undrafted rookie, both veterans encouraged him to play to his strengths, laying a foundation that has since pushed the Arkansas native toward All-Star consideration.
LeBron Reflects on Familiar Faces
The Mavericks roster and staff feature several former Lakers, including D’Angelo Russell, Max Christie, head coach Jason Kidd, assistant coach Frank Vogel and trainer Phil Handy. James acknowledged the emotional element of facing so many past teammates and coaches but emphasized his focus remained on securing the win.
With the victory, the Lakers improved to 129-119 in their first meeting with Dallas since Davis’s offseason move. The teams are scheduled to meet three more times this season.
Source: Lakers Nation
