About

Anthony Davis' Trade Reaction, also known as Check Your Phone, refers to memes and jokes about a reaction image that was popularized online after the Lakers' Anthony Davis (AD) was traded for Luka Doncic in the NBA in February 2025. The image of AD comes from a previous October 2024 interview in which a Spectrum Sportsnet reporter seemingly implied that Davis would not be with the Lakers much longer, and another journalist jokingly says, "Check your phone" or "Check his phone." The interview began making the rounds again in February 2025, with some basketball fans mistaking it for the moment Anthony Davis learned about the trade, while others joked about reporters knowing about the trade months beforehand.

Origin

On October 26th, 2024, a Spectrum Sportsnet reporter asked Anthony Davis, "Does it make you think about […] what you could accomplish with what's left of your Lakers tenure," prompting laughter. In response, Davis makes a puzzled expression, then smiles and says, "You say that like I'm about to …" while another unseen journalist jokes, "Check his phone." The X^[1] / Twitter post gathered over 100,000 views and 1,000 likes in four months.

Anthony Davis joined two Laker legends in starting the season with consecutive 35-point games. I asked him if he knew who they were and listen to him rattle through names of franchise greats before landing on the right answers … pic.twitter.com/ElX3lz27kz

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) October 26, 2024

On February 2nd, 2025, news about Anthony Davis being traded for Luka Doncic and moving to the Dallas Mavericks broke, with ESPN^[2] reporting that the deal was kept completely secret and that Lebron James nor David or Doncic knew about it beforehand.

Also on February 2nd, TikToker^[3] @gee.lamb posted a video falsely claiming that AD learned about him being traded from a reporter, gathering over 11 million plays and 1.9 million likes in four days.

Spread

On February 3rd, 2025, TikToker^[8] @hollywoodmar reposted an image of AD's worried-looking expression that subsequently became a reaction meme, writing, "When your girl and her best friend arguing she she say, "Stfu before I tell him." The post gathered over 1.7 million plays and 300,000 likes in three days.

Later on February 3rd, TikToker^[7] @ticklemewitagen5 posted an Anthony Davis reaction meme with the text, "I got something to tell you about your girl bro, gathering over 300,000 plays and 77,000 likes in three days. The Instagram^[4] page @oogiebooogiewitdahoodie reposted the image later that day, gathering over 4,000 likes in a similar timeframe.

Also on February 3rd, 2025, X^[9] user @ayeejuju posted a meme that read, "facetimed my girl and her lil sister said 'damn how many boyfriends you got!?'" gathering over 240,000 likes in three days.

On February 4th, TikToker^[5] @marshonfx posted the reaction image as well, writing, "how 'Christians' that goon, party, smoke, and never go to church look at you when you say your atheist." The video gathered over 92,000 likes and 350,000 plays. It was reposted by X^[6] user @YMWyungbug on February 5th, gathering over 28,000 likes in a day.

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References