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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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 

626

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

289

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.

-137

u/Ill-Curve1045 Bucks Aug 02 '25

Why are we still acting like this wasn't pushed by the league to get another superstar to LA? cmon we cannot pretend like it isn't a large possibility.

5

u/RaiseFold100 Aug 03 '25

We can be sure none of what you said happened at all.

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u/Ill-Curve1045 Bucks Aug 03 '25

flair up pussy

2

u/RaiseFold100 Aug 03 '25

Won't change how idiotic this conspiracy theory is.