Kobe Bryant would have joined billionaire Mark Cuban’s Mavericks if not for botched trade
Former Dallas Mavericks majority owner Mark Cuban came close to roping in Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant in 2007.
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Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant almost joined Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks
Kobe Bryant attained legendary status and continues to be the fitting example of excellence and drive on the court with the Los Angeles Lakers. In twenty seasons with the team, he became a beacon for loyalty and won five NBA titles.
But it was not all plain sailing as Mark Cuban, former majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks, almost upset the apple cart. The billionaire was speaking with Shaquille O’Neal on The Big Podcast with Shaq about Bryant’s presence in the GOAT conversation.
Cuban revealed that the Mavericks were close to trading Bryant in 2007. This news has not been known to the basketball world till now. Even O’Neal, who himself was once part of the Lakers to Mavericks trade talks, was caught off guard by this.
Do you realize how close we were to trading for Kobe in 2007? It was literally this close. I talked to Jerry Buss and worked something out with Jerry because Kobe had asked to leave. Jerry said, ‘Ok, if you want to leave, we’ll take care of it’. Then Mitch Kupchak obviously stepped up and said, ‘We can’t do this’. Talked Kobe out of it, rest is history.
Mark Cuban said
Mark Cuban reveals Kobe Bryant almost became a Dallas Maverick in 2007 ?
— The Big Podcast (@bigpodwithshaq) October 9, 2024
Could you imagine Kobe and Dirk in Dallas?
New Big Pod episode ft. Mark Cuban is live now! Watch here: https://t.co/CwteoCaglX pic.twitter.com/CTpiyplGeb
The talks about Kobe Bryant came into effect when Mark Cuban was taunted by someone about the Lakers dominating the Mavericks. But once he got a whiff of Bryant wanting to leave, he swung into action as he wanted to see the late legend playing alongside Dirk Nowitzki.
Cuban almost thought it was a done deal until then Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak intervened. Kupchak convinced Bryant to stay back in Los Angeles even though the late Hall of Famer clearly wanted to leave.
Kobe Bryant to the Dallas Mavericks would have changed the balance of power in the NBA
Hypothetically, had Kobe Bryant joined the Dallas Mavericks, the NBA as it is today would have been vastly different. For one, it would have been one of the best pairings on a basketball court. Dirk Nowitzki would have been Pau Gasol but with more offensive prowess.
Nowitzki and Bryant could have won NBA titles straight away and probably dominated for a long time. Had they done that, many NBA stars of that era would have struggled to win titles. It could have also sent the Los Angeles Lakers into a rebuild mode.
The balance of power in the league would have changed exponentially. Had they won three titles, Bryant could have entered the GOAT conversation without any doubts. If only Mitch Kupchak had thought otherwise!
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Joseph Varghese
(2265 Articles Published)