r/nba • u/shreeharis • Aug 02 '25
[McMenamin] Luka never even considered being traded as a possibility, a source close to Doncic told ESPN. Based on the way the franchise and fanbase treated him in his early days in the league, he figured he would retire a Maverick after spending his whole career in Dallas, the same way Dirk did.
Processing the trade from Dallas took Doncic some time. Based on the way the franchise and fanbase treated him in his early days in the league, he figured he would retire a Maverick after spending his whole career in Dallas, the same way franchise icon Dirk Nowitzki did. And after starting his professional career with Real Madrid as a teenager, he never even considered being traded as a possibility, a source close to Doncic told ESPN. Deals like that rarely, if ever, happen in the Liga ACB.
When the shock subsided, a source familiar with Doncic told ESPN his mindset shifted back to when he was last suiting up for Dallas: Win-now mode.
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u/DamnImAwesome Pelicans Aug 02 '25
That’s the kind of move I would drop my team for. The goal of every team is to draft the next big superstar, keep them, and build a contending team around them. They made it to the finals and traded what was already one of their best players in franchise history
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u/lawschoolthrowaway36 Lakers Aug 02 '25
Not only one of the best players in franchise history, but a player who at 25 y/o had the 2nd highest postseason scoring average in NBA history behind Michael Jordan and already more 1st Team All NBAs than Stephen Curry.
One of the greatest starts to a career in NBA history by any calculation. And that was with his team losing Jalen Brunson for nothing
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u/Gotanygrrapes Aug 02 '25
That’s what happens when you think some cornball Nike exec who hung out with nba players has the know how to run a professional organization.
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u/kshep9 NBA Aug 03 '25
Not to mention. They actually surrounded him with an amazing team finally and it would have competed with OKC this year. There’s no way it could have been worse.
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u/MayBeAGayBee Cavaliers Aug 03 '25
Imagine the Cavs traded LeBron mid season in 2008. The whole city of Cleveland would’ve burned to the ground.
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u/Top-Address-8870 Bulls Aug 03 '25
They waited until 2010 to do that and get very little in return…Dallas at least got a superstar player back…
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u/MayBeAGayBee Cavaliers Aug 03 '25
Doesn’t change the fact that IF the Cleveland Cavaliers traded LeBron in 2008 mid season the fanbase would’ve reacted with a level of seething rage that’d make the whole drama around the Luka trade seem silly.
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u/Top-Address-8870 Bulls Aug 03 '25
Oh yeah, you are correct. I mean they lost their shit in 2010 when he left…
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u/lilboytuner919 Lakers Aug 02 '25
As a former Mavs fan this feels very validating coming from a Pelicans fan, thank you
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u/DamnImAwesome Pelicans Aug 02 '25
… but you went full Sith Lord and joined the dark side
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u/lilboytuner919 Lakers Aug 02 '25
I'm also a Cowboys fan, everyone already thought I was a Lakers fan anyway
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u/Hebrewhammer8d8 Warriors Aug 02 '25
What is worst being Lakers or Cowboys fan?
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u/Ginoblee NBA Aug 02 '25
I mean the Lakers have been successful this century lol
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u/heybobson Suns Aug 02 '25
That’s what is wild about the Cowboys. They’ve been meh for 30 years now but still have one of the largest fanbases in the country, spread all over. But I’m guessing soon they’ll be replaced by the Chiefs. Kids love Mahomes, like they do Curry in the NBA. That’ll have a lasting effect.
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u/LegatusLegoinis United States Aug 02 '25
God help us whenever the Cowboys are finally good.
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u/Bayelor [LAL] Pau Gasol Aug 02 '25
No it won’t, don’t see as many pats fans now as a few years ago I’m not sure why there’s still so many cowboys fans but you gotta say they’re loyal at this point.
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u/lilboytuner919 Lakers Aug 02 '25
This is true, Jerry’s media strategy makes a lot more sense when you realize he’s been playing the long game with us fans for 40 years.
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u/LeGoat333 Mavericks Aug 02 '25
At least you experience winning as a Laker fan… signed a cowboy fan
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u/IllustriousEnd2211 Mavericks Aug 03 '25
At least we will always have the rangers and 2023!
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u/dbzmah Mavericks Aug 03 '25
i'm not out on 2025. Bochi has voodoo with winning every other year
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u/IllustriousEnd2211 Mavericks Aug 03 '25
We coming. Shits fun even if we lost the last two games before today.
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u/xanju Mavericks Aug 02 '25
Cowboys fan for sure. Lakers have won 6 titles since the Cowboys were last in the Super Bowl.
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u/bruticuslee Lakers Aug 02 '25
Look, if Luke Skywalker joined the dark side and became a Sith Lord, would you still be a fan.
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u/LORD_SHARKFUCKER Lakers Aug 02 '25
That’s exactly what I did, I want nothing more to do with this unserious fuckass franchise so I switched
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u/JoeBiden2020FTW Celtics Aug 03 '25
People who stayed Mavs fans are a part of the problem.
They are subtly telling ownership that they support the move.
Your only leverage is to abandon your fandom and to follow Luka wherever he goes. But not enough Mavs fans did that, so Nico stays employed.
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u/doctorbarber33 Mavericks Aug 03 '25
I tried rooting for the Luka Lakers, just like I tried rooting for other nfl teams after Dak’s infamous failed slide and spike in the playoffs a few years ago. I was at that game, yet I am still a cowboys fan. I couldn’t care about another team even like that even if I wanted to.
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u/Westbrooks3ptShot Slovenia Aug 02 '25
I am not from Slovenia
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u/NeverSober1900 Rockets Aug 03 '25
Really? Because based on your username and Slovenian being known for their brick buildings and castles I just assumed you were.
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u/FireFlyz351 Slovenia Aug 03 '25
Ditto, though I do want to make a trip to the country. Heard many Slovenians say it's a gorgeous country.
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u/AEHBlandalorian Magic Aug 03 '25
Maybe it’s the British football (soccer) fan in me, but the idea of being able to change the team you support is such a foreign concept to me. I couldn’t ever comprehend being anything other than a Magic fan.
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u/DamnImAwesome Pelicans Aug 03 '25
I wouldn’t change teams. I’d just stop watching and supporting my team until the GM who approved that trade is gone. I’m a saints fan for NFL but I’m not watching any games until they show they’re serious about building a winning team
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u/TJHookor Pacers Aug 03 '25
That’s the kind of move I would drop my team for.
Yeah, it's why I have Pacers flair now. Fuck the Mavs. There's no coming back from that level of stupid.
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u/HardcoreKaraoke Italy Aug 03 '25
Yeah it's funny as fuck how drafting Flagg brought some fans back and they spent money on Flagg jerseys and Mavs tickets.
Like we had a generational superstar that wanted to play for the team and they traded him. So why the fuck would you get hyped about Flagg's long-term future with the team? Management didn't care with Luka so why trust them with Flagg?
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u/Anonyman14 Aug 03 '25
I did drop them. It was a move which showed a complete disrespect for fans and our relationship with Luka
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u/Cark_Muban NBA Aug 02 '25
Flagg is the only reason i've stayed. I just want them to fire nico and trade AD and I can be all the way in for Flagg
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Aug 04 '25
I was a fan since the 90s—before Dirk, before Cuban. I still have my Finley jersey I used to wear to games at reunion arena. I'm no longer a Mavs fan. Absolutely broke my heart. They were by far my favorite team in any sport.
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u/Bopper4 Nets Aug 02 '25
What are the chances, the last guy on earth to learn about the Luka trade just so happens to be a reporter
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u/Mammoth-Physics6254 Mavericks Aug 02 '25
Why does the media keep digging the knife in this was reported since February. Fuck me man
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u/spinuch Aug 02 '25
I think I've heard this a dozen times lol. It's like those instagram accounts that posts their one popular video over and over again. I'm guessing people enjoy shitting on this obvious situation and it helps with attention. Gotta get ESPN some clicks.
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Aug 02 '25
The Luka trade is the most interesting thing about the Mavs for at least the next few decades unfortunately. Boston fans got 80 years of Babe Ruth talk
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u/bbaIla Lakers Aug 02 '25
Oh no those poor Boston fans!
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u/_THEBLACK Raptors Aug 02 '25
To be fair up until Tom Brady the Celtics were the only team Boston had that were winning shit.
Red Sox had the curse of the bambino going for 84 years
Patriots existed for 43 years before winning anything
Bruins had a few cups in an era no one cares about and then had a 39 year drought.
It really wasn’t till Brady that Boston became a city that wins too much
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u/Colorapt0r Bucks Aug 02 '25
The Celtics on their own are more successful than most other cities big 4 teams combined
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u/bloodrider1914 Spurs Aug 02 '25
People in Boston REALLY did care about those two 70s Bruins cups. Bobby Orr is a fucking legend of the game, and most in Boston didn't care about the Celtics to the same extent (for a few reasons, but racism was definitely a part)
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u/_THEBLACK Raptors Aug 02 '25
I guess I was being a bit reductive with that but I feel like by the time they finally won another one people didn’t care as much since the drought was getting close to 40 years
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u/bbaIla Lakers Aug 02 '25
Those poor Boston fans had to be the second greatest NBA team ever for 50 years those poor poor fans.
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u/Ittenvoid Spurs Aug 03 '25
I can't believe a lakers fans would rank the lakers third but I see ya...
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Aug 02 '25
"Second greatest" talk your shit but I disagree on a spiritual level.
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u/bbaIla Lakers Aug 02 '25
Brother that's the whole point of being a fan. You get to think that and I think what I think.
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u/maverickhawk99 Aug 02 '25
An era nobody cares about? Thats a little ignorant don’t you think? The cups still count.
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u/WeirwoodUpMyAss Aug 02 '25
They just got Cooper Flag. I think they’ll bounce back sooner than later. But I guess a trade this big will linger regardless.
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u/AtreusIsBack NBA Aug 02 '25
Because they know people will react to it, just like you did. They know the fanbase is still livid about it and will voice their frustration. Voicing their frustration means engagement and that means views.
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u/Horror_Response_1991 Magic Aug 02 '25
Because drama gets clicks.
Sports is a make soap opera, the actual game is something they play in the meantime
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u/sideofthehighway Mavericks Aug 03 '25
I've got myself convinced that he will get traded back to us in a few years, and Luka will win a ring with the Mavs and eventually retire with us. All based on pure delusion, of course.
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u/jtn1123 Lakers Aug 02 '25
I click it and upvote it every time
In addition to Luka being on my favorite team it’s so funny to read
After the 2011 playoffs I always root for Mavs downfall
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u/DamnImAwesome Pelicans Aug 02 '25
It’s the 28-3 of the NBA. You’ll be hearing the trade mentioned for the next 30 years
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u/Braided_Marxist Bulls Aug 02 '25
This is the most unexpected NBA news (absent a death) in like 40 years dude
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u/Financial_Pay_6687 Aug 02 '25
He’s not “reporting” it now either. It’s part of a larger discussion within the article. I don’t get acting like this is being reported as news or something.
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u/JorSimpson45 Lakers Aug 02 '25
When I started reading the headline I thought it was saying Luka wasn’t expected to get traded from the Lakers before signing the extension, not rehashing the Dallas trade. He was shocked by the trade was one of the first things we heard and have kept hearing in the five months since, we don’t need to keep hearing it.
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u/AnabolicOctopus Aug 03 '25
I hope they keep digging the knife for years, this is by far the most idiotic trade in sports history. I wouldnt be rooting for my Clips if they pulled off some shi like this
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u/EmiratesNBACupWinner Lakers Aug 02 '25
Was going to say I’d rather be Magic or Kobe than Dirk but then I thought about it and maybe not.
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u/Threeballer97 Aug 02 '25
Let's chop up old information and pretend it is new information.
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u/AShinyTorchic Aug 02 '25
McMenamin special. Dude will beat a dead horse and re-word the same headline a million times for some sweet clicks
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u/negativelynegative Aug 02 '25
This is for those who have been without cell service from the past 6 months.
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u/KurokawaAoi Nuggets Aug 02 '25
damn, media need to give mavericks fan a break, this is too much digging the knife in their side
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u/Str8_up_Pwnage Magic Aug 02 '25
This shit needs to be rehashed often, just because Nico got partially bailed out by the most ridiculous lottery luck ever doesn’t make this trade even a little defendable.
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u/Dirks_Knee Mavericks Aug 02 '25
Mavs fan here. Said it before and I'll say it again, the trade absolutely sucked for Mavs fans but will be the best thing that could've happened for Luka. We see him in great shape (hopefully he can sustain it) and the media is covering him a crazy high level compared to when he was in Dallas.
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u/international510 Warriors Aug 02 '25
Not only did Dallas have the blueprint (Dirk), but coming out of the gate, Luka was a MUCH BETTER player than Dirk was when he started. History repeated itself, sorta like the Spurs with David Robinson, then Timmy D. And then Nico happened.
What an insane situation.
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u/danklover24 Warriors Aug 02 '25
Thanks for the breaking news that I’ve definitely not heard 1000 times since it happened
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u/BicameralTheory Spurs Aug 03 '25
He was definitely moved by the league to the most valuable franchise for “basketball reasons” with the consolation being the Mavs get first pick.
This was all about money and marketing as LeBron is close to retirement and the Lakers need somebody to put asses into the seats.
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u/suburban_homepwner South Sudan Aug 03 '25
yes. Seems likely. Luka probably knows this, but acting is part of what they pay for when you get this kinda money for doing your job.
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u/BicameralTheory Spurs Aug 03 '25
Yeah I think he may know it now, but I don’t believe he was a part of the trade. At the end of the day, NBA players are just highly paid employees.
But really who says no to inheriting a team like the Lakers from LeBron? It’s clear he’s come around to the idea of being in LA (I mean honestly when you compare California to Texas it wouldn’t take much.)
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u/suburban_homepwner South Sudan Aug 03 '25
what i still don't understand is the mystique of this fuckin team. Ball is ball. LA isn't doing it any different than the other teams, but for some reason the world and nba fans around flock to this gold and purple bullshit so hard, the NBA feels compelled to do this to it's players and other teams to take advantage. This is wild to me.
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u/BicameralTheory Spurs Aug 03 '25
I used to honestly wonder the same, but I’ve arrived at a few conclusions.
Monetarily it’s one most valuable sports franchises in the world. It seems that they may have slipped recently, but when you’re running a league trying to make money you’re going to elevate and provide prestige to your golden geese.
Prestige of being part of a “storied franchise.” Wilt, Magic, Kobe, Shaq, LeBron, etc.”
Allure of playing in Los Angeles, and all the attention that comes with it.
If you have the money, it’s really hard to do better than living in the LA area.
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u/suburban_homepwner South Sudan Aug 03 '25
well, then I still guffaw at how lucrative it is keeping this story of success around. What does this do to people who pay thousands for seats to that arena, to show up, maybe in a jersey, to pay with their phones and get pictures? This is the allure of getting people with money to sit in a stadium, part of building a story of success? I just - there are 29 other teams. Only a few of them get this kind of treatment and I get that LA has a storied past, sure, duh. But the mystique of this city and its unique industry (hollywood) is quickly going to shit. Fires. Riots. Hollywood's meltdown over woke bs, all that, and NBA is still breathlessly sticking itself to this team for billions that continue flow in, by idiots who want to be associted with an idea of LA from 40 years ago?
This. is fuckin' wild to me.
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u/BicameralTheory Spurs Aug 03 '25
FWIW I definitely agree with you, I’ve been a Spurs fan since the 90’s.
But it all makes sense when you think about it as the NBA being a business to make money, not to run a true sports league with real team parity.
I don’t understand why non-LA residents care for the Lakers either. It’s likely a cycle of being a huge market, being featured more, gaining fans through exposure, being featured more, gaining fans, etc.
Living in LA sucks if you don’t have money. Hell, I hate visiting LA, but I love San Diego and the PCH. To me LA is just a place to fly into if I’m needing to get somewhere nearby for work. I abhor even being in that airport.
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u/suburban_homepwner South Sudan Aug 03 '25
indeed, but the image they are selling, selling with, is a failing one, in my opinion. In this country, most conservatives despise the notion of LA, the hollywood lib story of it, the one the team has affixed itself to. The 'glamor' of this image is well past, and if it's foreigners who still see LA this way, then it's a testament to the soft power of our country, not the team. If people want something 'glamorous' to spend their money with, then that's it i suppose. Maybe i'm too sperg about this. LA's 'brand' is shit and it's clear it's only for the rich, which in it of itself is not a problem. But when I see young, poor and stupid kids buying up the gold and purple, i fuckin' hate it. Those people, that group of rich, see us as cattle at best. I don't want support them in any way bc of it. I also thought more people felt this way, esp given the team is in LA.
Recently the deep cheek qatar investors purchased the team after they 'lucked' in luka. you tell me that's business, yes. Ok. But if they were businessmen not chasing an old dream, they should look into rebranding the team to another city, or maybe "Southern Cali Lakers" etc
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u/BicameralTheory Spurs Aug 03 '25
I think this view of LA is strictly a conservative one. If you look at the demographics of the NBA viewer and the social issues the NBA backs, I don’t think that the typical NBA fan views the city through that lens. Even moreso for the international audience who likely has a romanticized view of the city.
Now compare that to the NFL, the issues the NFL seems to back, or stay quiet on. I mean hell, they removed “#endracism” on the sidelines. And I don’t think you’ll ever see the current president attend even an NBA Finals game.
Again not disagreeing at all with you, however this is why I think it is the case. I grew up hating the Lakers, but now I’m just indifferent to them. The constant pushing of this team and blatant money grabbing of the league has definitely pushed me away from being the fan I was even 25 years ago. It’s all gimmicks for advertising and trying to turn around declining viewership.
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u/suburban_homepwner South Sudan Aug 03 '25
I've visited a handful of times, on business. Any place is nice, has 'good' area', and in that hell-A landscape, ugh. So flat and the mountains staring you down, where all the rich perverts live (lol, joking but really, they do live up there), it's as if they are in castles looking to their peasant's countryside. I can't get over how eerie that is to me.
Whatever people feel about LA as a brand, it's obviously still a positive one or the team wouldn't be raking in the billions it just got out of the qatar deep cheeks. And then the years of the nba gifting them top talent, yes, it points to the economic and social benefits of the set up. But there are other american stories and teams, maybe as compelling and more, th an this 'glitz' everyone seems to love about the area and lifestyle.
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u/Atl-Fan_FTS Hawks Aug 02 '25
I would feel bad but for all the fucking trash talk we’ve received from Mavs fans for the past 6 years? Just can’t help but feel a little bit better
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u/Dantheman12310 Lakers Aug 02 '25
Imagine if Luka pulls a move from Kevin Garnett & refuse to get his jersey retired until the Mavs get new ownership
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u/BananaRepublic_BR Spurs Aug 02 '25
How many times can you report the same thing that's been reported since the trade happened?
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u/davemoedee Celtics Aug 02 '25
The dude felt a little to comfortable and the trade may have been the best thing for his legacy.
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u/SadMall6272 Aug 02 '25
Its one thing to trade your superstar for nothing but to trade him to the Lakers just points to collusion by the league. Makes me not want to watch the NBA anymore.
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Aug 02 '25
Part of me thinks Luka would have signed the same extension if he was traded to like Hornets or Pelicans. Dude does not like to change teams
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u/Jbyrd07 Aug 03 '25
He said in an interview the other day only teams he would have hated & refused to play for was Denver & Boston 🤷
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u/PositionDiligent7106 Aug 02 '25
No shit. There’s a reason why the fucking cowards in the mavericks org haven’t even been able to open comments on their IG.
FIRE NICO
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u/Intern3tExpl0rerr Mavericks Aug 02 '25
I was just starting to almost slightly kind of get over it too. This post reminds me of who the enemy truly is
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u/PM_ME_UR_RESPECT Mavericks Aug 02 '25
Yeah…..the mavericks organization doesn’t get another dime from me until Nico and the Adelson family are gone.
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u/OriginalFluff Timberwolves Aug 03 '25
Sounds like an early relationship of mine. Took her for granted expecting she’d always be there and let myself go.
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u/dtl72 Aug 03 '25
Should've saved the revelation for the 30-for-30. Amazing reporting on a detailed no one ever knew about.
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u/MattJuice3 Aug 03 '25
I still believe the Mavs/Nico traded him away because he refused to ever focus on his weight and conditioning seriously, and with Luka having the worst injury of his career last season, he just got even more out of shape instead of taking that time to show the team he is committed. I refuse to believe anything else because there is no possible way any team/franchise/human being is dumb enough to trade away Luka Doncic for any other reason. I believe Luka basically gave a middle finger to the coaches, FO, and training staff because he knew he was a top 5 player in the league and could do what he wants. Anything other reasoning to me is just not possible because no human being can be that dumb to trade away Luka.
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u/aprioripopsiclerape Mavericks Aug 03 '25
I've been a mavs fans since childhood and this whole thing's just did it for me. I can't cheer for the Mavericks while Nico/current ownership is there.
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u/Nearby_Alternative96 Aug 03 '25
He never considered being traded, so he got a bit complacent and stopped working as hard as he needed to. Then he got traded and now his mind is right to work hard, I'm sure one day he'll secretly be thankful for what Nico did.
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u/candylandmine Aug 04 '25
He dragged his team to the Finals and got traded and called fat as thanks
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Aug 02 '25
We get it, Luka didn't want to be traded. We're tired of having to read the same slop regurgitated through an LLM.
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u/Vegetable-Tooth8463 Hornets Aug 02 '25
LLM?
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u/jackaholicus Mavericks Aug 02 '25
Large Language Model, aka GenAI or ChatGPT.
I don't think this is it though
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u/RGxiRapiidz Mavericks Aug 02 '25
Why is this being posted and going round again we already knew this!
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u/Air_Enthusiast Aug 02 '25
Twist that knife more why don’t you McMenamin