Dallas Mavericks fans have not taken kindly to the franchise’s decision to trade Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. Nearly two weeks have passed since the trade was confirmed, but the issue remains a point of heated debate. Recently, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal entered the fray, sending a direct request to Mavericks management.
“Why did you trade one of the best players in the league?” O’Neal questioned during an appearance on The Big Podcast. “Nobody’s really given an answer. We want to know. Dirk (Nowitzki) wants to know. Mark Cuban wants to know. All of Dallas wants to know.”
Shaq then aimed his comments directly at Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison. “I want Nico to say, ‘This is why we traded him,’” he pointed. “In the treachery of the business of basketball, people just need to come out and say it.”
Addressing the possibility that the Mavericks may have traded Doncic due to doubts about his ability to lead the team to success, O’Neal didn’t hold back. “I rather you just have some (expletive) and come out and say, ‘Hey, man, we didn’t believe in him.’” he stated bluntly.
The former Lakers star continued, arguing that a candid, unsympathetic explanation would be preferable to silence, which only fuels speculation. “Say it so other people can’t get likes by making up BS conspiracy theories,” he added. “Because once one of these conspiracy theories catches leg, now you got another conversation, another explanation.”
Doncic’s reunion with the Mavericks looms
While speculation continues to swirl about Luka Doncic’s trade, the Dallas Mavericks are set to face the Los Angeles Lakers in the near future. The highly anticipated game is scheduled for Tuesday night, February 25, at Crypto.com Arena and will mark the Slovenian star’s first meeting with his former teammates since the trade.
“You know what I would do if I were Luka?” Shaquille O’Neal mused about the upcoming game. “I just sit on the bus until the time to play the game. I won’t come in the arena, you’re not going to see me for warm-ups. I’m gonna just sit,” he added. “Then run out. Ooh, that’s how I would do it.”