Anthony Davis says Nike told him to kick rocks when it came to getting the #23 jersey from LeBron James ... saying the footwear giant said, "We don't care who you guys are, it's too much money!"
Davis says in a dinner date only a few days after he was traded from the Pelicans to the Lakers ... LeBron offered him his famous #23 jersey as a "Welcome to L.A." gift.
The problem? AD said on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" this week, Nike told him it would cost the company WAY TOO MUCH CASH ... and said the jersey swap ain't happening.
Davis was clearly bothered by the whole ordeal, saying, "I was a little hurt."
But, AD says his solution to the problem was simple ... fire up NBA 2K and try on other jersey numbers!!
Davis says he eventually landed on #3 because it looked nice ... and it was also the digit he rocked when he first started hoopin' in elementary school.
By the way, Anthony also talked about Taco Tuesday nights with LeBron ... and even spoke about the Kawhi Leonard free agency decision that would have locked the Lakers up "as champions right there."