Anthony Davis expected the boos the second he walked onto the floor in New Orleans. They came early and never faded. Every touch drew noise. Every bucket drew more. Davis didn’t react. He just kept playing.
By the end of the night, the crowd’s reaction had almost become background noise. What mattered was what Davis had done again. Another dominant performance. Another night that quietly separated him from everyone else in the modern NBA.
Even with the loss, the bigger story followed him out of the building. Statistically, Davis is now standing alone.
Anthony Davis Is Redefining Elite Big-Man Production in Today’s NBA
On December 23, 2025, Anthony Davis put together one of the most complete games of the season against the New Orleans Pelicans, according to PFSN. The Dallas Mavericks forward finished with 35 points and 17 rebounds, along with two assists, one steal, and one block while shooting 16-of-28 from the field. It was the highest-scoring game of his Mavericks career.
That line wasn’t just loud. It was historic. The star player now holds the record for the most games since 2000 with at least 35 points and 15 rebounds. No other player in the modern NBA has reached that mark. Not with a pace this high. Not with spacing this wide. Not in an era built to limit nights like this. Luka Dončić did it last. He owns that night right then.
Anthony Davis has the most games by any player since 2000 with 35+ PTS & 15+ REB. pic.twitter.com/WV5gZS3v00
— Real Sports (@realapp) December 23, 2025
Teams leaned on Davis heavily. The offense slowed when it needed to. It sped up when lanes opened. Davis controlled the glass, finished through contact, and anchored every important possession. When things felt steady, it was because he was on the floor.
The Pelicans exploded for 40 points in the final period, flipping the game late and closing out a 119–113 win. Six New Orleans players scored in double figures, and Dallas struggled to respond once the momentum shifted.
The loss exposed familiar issues. Late defensive breakdowns. Missed opportunities. Limited support. Cooper Flagg and Klay Thompson provided help, but no one consistently matched Davis when the game tightened.
Around all of it, the fans stayed loud. That crowd’s jeers followed the champion each quarter. Years after his demand to leave, resentment hangs like smoke in the air. Chasing rings pulled him from New Orleans once. A trophy with L.A. came two summers later. Now wearing Dallas blue, he joins a team wiping the slate clean. But at the same time, some fans applauded him wholeheartedly.
A fan said, “Any team would be lucky to have a player like him.”
Another fan remarked, “He’s been consistent.”
A third fan remarked, “Why stop at 2000? Oh, that’s right, you never saw Wilt play.”
Another said, “How far is Giannis?”
Though injuries have taken a toll on his health, his impact is irreplaceable. Through his 14 games, the pro player is averaging 21 points and 11.6 rebounds while shooting 51.7 percent from the field. Dallas now sits at 11–19, outside the play-in picture. The margin is thin. The pressure is real.
Still, the takeaway remains simple. In the modern NBA, no one combines scoring, rebounding, and physical control as Anthony Davis does. Wins may come and go. History keeps following him.
