recentlyheard
Lionel Hollins, who served as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers from 2019 to 2021, recently made headlines by recounting an anecdote involving Anthony Davis and LeBron James. According to Hollins, when Davis first joined the Lakers, he asked James about their planned workout sessions, only to be told that he needed to wake up earlier to train together.
Speaking on SiriusXM Radio, the 72-year-old Hollins detailed the exchange, noting that Davis approached James in the weight room one morning and reminded him of their agreement. James allegedly responded, "You gotta wake up earlier if you want to come work with me," emphasizing his preference for early-morning training. Hollins added, "It's a true statement because LeBron is a morning person... AD was hugging that pillow a bit."
However, Davis quickly dismissed the story, taking to X (formerly Twitter) to post a cap emoji, a slang term used to indicate that something is false or exaggerated. The response suggested that Davis viewed Hollins' recollection as inaccurate.
Key Analysis
Davis spent six seasons with the Lakers after being traded from the New Orleans Pelicans in July 2019. Together with James, he helped secure the 2019-20 NBA championship. The duo's partnership was productive, but Davis was eventually traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 2025 as part of the blockbuster Luka Doncic deal, and later moved to the Washington Wizards.
Currently recovering from a ligament injury in his left hand, Davis is expected to return to action at the start of the 2026-27 season. Meanwhile, speculation about a potential reunion between Davis and James surfaced this summer, with reports indicating James wanted the Golden State Warriors to pursue a trade for Davis. However, Washington declined to part with him, and James ultimately signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, where he will join Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Jaylen Brown in pursuit of a fifth championship.
Originally reported by recentlyheard.