You’ve seen the clips. Or maybe you’ve just seen the memes. If you’ve spent more than five minutes on NBA Twitter (or X, whatever) or scrolled through the depths of r/nba, you’ve likely encountered the infamous anthony davis locker room video. It’s one of those weird, internet artifacts that refuses to die.
Honestly, it’s kinda bizarre how a six-second clip from over a decade ago still follows an NBA superstar around. We’re talking about a guy who is a multi-time All-Star, a champion, and a future Hall of Famer. Yet, mention his name in a comment section, and someone is bound to bring up the "spanking video."
But what actually happened? Was it hazing? Was it just "boys being boys"? Or was it something that the internet has totally blown out of proportion? Let’s get into the weeds of where this came from and why it still matters in 2026.
The Origin Story: Bluegrass and Locker Room Antics
The video didn’t surface when Anthony Davis was a Laker or even during his New Orleans Pelicans days. It actually dates back to his legendary 2011-2012 season at the University of Kentucky.
That year, AD was basically a god on campus. He was the consensus National Player of the Year, led the Wildcats to a title, and was the easiest #1 overall pick in years. But behind the scenes, the locker room culture was... well, high-energy.
The specific anthony davis locker room video shows a naked Davis being held down by teammates while another player playfully (depending on who you ask) spanks him. Davis is seen laughing and squirming, shouting "No!" while clearly being part of the joke.
Why did it go viral years later?
The clip didn't actually hit the mainstream until late 2013, well after Davis had already started his NBA career. TMZ picked it up, and because it involved a naked superstar and "locker room hazing," it blew up instantly.
Context matters here. In 2013, the sports world was reeling from the Richie Incognito-Jonathan Martin bullying scandal with the Miami Dolphins. People were hypersensitive to anything that looked like locker room abuse. When this AD clip surfaced, people immediately started asking if the Kentucky program had a bullying problem.
Was it Actually Hazing?
This is where things get murky. If you ask the players involved, they’ll tell you it was just a joke.
- The "Teammate" Factor: The guys in the video weren't strangers; they were a tight-knit group that won a national championship.
- Davis’s Reaction: He’s laughing. He doesn't look distressed. In the world of elite athletics, "grab-ass" and weird pranks are unfortunately common.
- The Silence: Neither Kentucky nor Davis ever released a massive formal statement about it back then. They basically let it blow over, which, in the pre-TikTok era, was actually possible.
However, from a modern lens, it’s uncomfortable. In 2026, we look at power dynamics differently. Even if a freshman says he’s "in on the joke," is he really? Or is he just playing along because he wants to fit in? Experts on sports culture often point to these "playful" moments as the thin end of the wedge for more serious hazing issues.
The 2021 Reddit AMA Disaster
If you want to know why this video is still a thing, look no further than the 2021 Anthony Davis Reddit AMA.
It was supposed to be a standard marketing play. AD was there to promote Ruffles chips. It was corporate, safe, and boring—until it wasn't. The r/nba community decided they weren't going to ask about potato chips. Instead, they flooded the thread with questions about the locker room video.
"Hey AD, can you explain the locker room video?"
"How do the Ruffles relate to the Kentucky spanking incident?"
It was a train wreck. Davis (or his PR team) ignored the questions, which only made the internet trolls go harder. It became a legendary "failed" AMA, right up there with James Corden or Woody Harrelson. That single event gave the video a second life, ensuring that a whole new generation of fans knew exactly what to search for.
The "Toughness" Narrative
Basketball fans are ruthless. Whenever AD misses a game due to a "soft" injury or has a bad night, the video comes back.
It’s used as a weapon to question his "alpha" status. It’s stupid, obviously—a locker room prank from when he was 18 has nothing to do with his ability to guard the rim in 2026—but that’s how the internet works. Rivals use the anthony davis locker room video to meme him into submission.
There's a weird psychological layer here. Fans want their stars to be untouchable, stoic warriors. Seeing a video of one of the best defenders in history in such a vulnerable, goofy, and "violated" (as some call it) state breaks that illusion. It makes him human, and for some fans, that’s a weakness.
Is it still relevant today?
Sorta. While the video itself is grainy and old, the conversation around it has shifted. It’s now more of a case study in:
- Digital Permanence: Nothing ever actually goes away.
- Athlete Branding: How one "off" moment can become a permanent part of your SEO.
- Locker Room Culture: How much "joking" is too much?
Lessons for the Next Generation
If you’re a high school or college athlete reading this, the takeaway isn't "don't get spanked." The takeaway is that everything is being recorded. In 2012, smartphones were common, but they weren't the ubiquitous surveillance tools they are now. Today, if that happened, it would be on a 4K iPhone and uploaded to a private Story within three seconds.
For Davis, it’s a footnote in a massive career. For a lesser player, a video like that could be a scholarship-killer.
Moving Forward: The AD Legacy
At the end of the day, Anthony Davis will be remembered for the "Bubble" title, his insane wingspan, and his ability to change a game without scoring a point. He’s recently dealt with a lot of noise regarding his trade to Dallas and his health, but his game usually speaks louder than the memes.
The anthony davis locker room video is basically a "grandfathered-in" meme at this point. It’s not going to ruin him, but it’s not going away either. It’s a reminder that even the biggest stars have embarrassing moments from their past that they wish would just stay in the archives.
What you should do next:
If you're looking into this because you're interested in the history of locker room culture, check out the reporting on the 2013 Dolphins scandal or the recent changes in NCAA hazing policies. It provides the actual serious context that this AD clip often gets lumped into. If you're just here for the memes, well, you've probably seen enough by now. Stick to the highlights of him actually playing basketball—they’re much more impressive.