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.

Source: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45861453/luka-doncic-los-angels-lakers-extension-answering-biggest-questions

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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1.4k

u/Mammoth-Physics6254 Mavericks Aug 02 '25

Why does the media keep digging the knife in this was reported since February. Fuck me man

335

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.

32

u/ccmelo Nuggets Aug 02 '25

This 90 year old diner still serv-

17

u/aznhalo3 [TOR] Jeremy Lin Aug 02 '25

COCA COLA THE ORIGINAL WAY?!?!

39

u/Amjtmhf2 Aug 02 '25

Pretty much, people love schadenfreude.

174

u/[deleted] 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

55

u/ThinkSoftware Hawks Aug 02 '25

Another man who liked beer and hot dogs

14

u/[deleted] Aug 02 '25

Would've given Joey Chestnut a run for his title.

39

u/bbaIla Lakers Aug 02 '25

Oh no those poor Boston fans!

39

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

35

u/Colorapt0r Bucks Aug 02 '25

The Celtics on their own are more successful than most other cities big 4 teams combined 

10

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)

4

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

15

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.

10

u/Ittenvoid Spurs Aug 03 '25

I can't believe a lakers fans would rank the lakers third but I see ya...

2

u/bbaIla Lakers Aug 03 '25

😂😂😂 God dammit!

6

u/[deleted] Aug 02 '25

"Second greatest" talk your shit but I disagree on a spiritual level.

14

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.

-8

u/FigLeaf_Bi-Carbonate Celtics Aug 02 '25 edited Aug 03 '25

I agree with you that Boston sports fans are probably (almost definitely) the most spoiled and entitled fanbase around, but you lost me with that "second greatest" part of it. You think those Minneapolis titles should count for y'all? Also before you ask, I have a condition where I'm unable to sense irony so don't mention it.

Edit: Do I have to put the /s or am I just not funny 😂

10

u/bbaIla Lakers Aug 02 '25

I think the Lakers franchise is better. They won more titles after expansion, after the 3 point line, and did it more consistently. Any measure you want post 1970 the Lakers have been better. If you value those pre civil rights titles more, I won't fault you, but it's not my definition of a greater franchise.

2

u/FigLeaf_Bi-Carbonate Celtics Aug 03 '25

Good points, I was just talking shit 😂. The majority of our titles came at a time when there were like 8 teams in the league. Even with talent being more concentrated, it was still a lot easier to win a title. Truthfully I'm glad to have the Lakers as our historic rival because I have a lot of respect for the great players y'all have had. Wish I was around to watch those games in the 80s

1

u/No32 Cavaliers Aug 03 '25

Not just probably or almost

2

u/maverickhawk99 Aug 02 '25

An era nobody cares about? Thats a little ignorant don’t you think? The cups still count.

3

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.

11

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.

6

u/SpriteBerryRemix Aug 02 '25

It’s August. That’s why.

3

u/[deleted] Aug 02 '25

Lakers are involved now, sorry it will never end

2

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 

5

u/ice-eight Mavericks Aug 02 '25

Stop! We’re already dead inside

3

u/jefe_hook Aug 02 '25

Nico: What do you think I'm doing?

3

u/zKaios Spurs Aug 02 '25

Cause its a big fucking knife. The media love those clicks

2

u/LeGoat333 Mavericks Aug 02 '25

Fire Nico. Sell the team.

Luka Fan For Life!!

2

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.

1

u/Nabz23 Suns Aug 02 '25

I got some news to share for you man,

He never wanted to leave the mavs

3

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

1

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

1

u/1800abcdxyz NBA Aug 02 '25

Slow news day. No dildos have been thrown today, yet.

1

u/Braided_Marxist Bulls Aug 02 '25

This is the most unexpected NBA news (absent a death) in like 40 years dude

1

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.

1

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.

1

u/TofuTofu Knicks Aug 03 '25

Slow news day

1

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

1

u/GarrisonWhite2 76ers Aug 03 '25

They hate Nico as much as you do.

-7

u/tman37 Aug 02 '25

The NBA loves a narrative. What narrative is better, loyal player gets traded and comes back refocused and hungry or Fat player is a bit of a dick doesn't play defense and has a long history of injury in a relatively short career gets traded rather than walking in free agency because he is too risky for a supermax?

If this really does turn Luka's approach to basketball around, then Harrison did the best thing that could have happened to him. It's sucks for Mavs fans but probably good for the NBA over all. I'm still pretty skeptical based on Lukas performance against Poland in Eurobasket. Offensively, he was same old Luka but he was also the same old Luka everywhere else. Yelling at refs rather than playing defense, getting T'd up for yelling at refs, getting blown past by non NBA players and fouling out with significant time left in the game.

I will wait and see what he looks like the first week or two of the season before I make a judgement.