yeah I guess it depends on what type of circle you have around you I don’t know anyone who hates Europeans in the game lol. Especially when they make up what? Such a small percentage? When you think of the top 20 players in the NBA they aren’t all Europeans so that’s a odd take.
I do find it interesting that when it comes to Luka everyone just bring up his stats. But those same people would say you can’t win with Harden or Westbrook in his prime. Guys who also had stats.
I’m not sure why this trade triggers people to use insults in order for either side to defend their stance. I can sit here and say I wouldn’t have made the trade but do I want Nico fired or dead? No. Life moves on and that’s the approach I’m taking. I would’ve been far more hurt if we traded Dirk.
It wasn’t highway robbery. Anthony Davis is a top 10 player and if he was more healthy he would’ve never been traded for Luka. The best two way player we’ve ever had in Dallas.
And for what it’s Anthony Davis played 76 games last year.
I get both sides and I don’t need a “expert” to tell me how good or bad Luka or AD are.
Either your head is in the sand, or you are willfully clueless about any of this Euro vs US discussion. We should all be so lucky.
AD did play 76 games last year. And he last played 70 or more games in 2017-8. so /golfclap.
He averaged 25 missed games per season since joining the Lakers.
He is NOT a top 10 player. That is a bad take. He had ONE top 10 season in the last 5 years.
He hasn't earned an NBA MVP vote since 2019.
He's made 1 All NBA (2nd team 2024) in the last FIVE years.
Thats the other insanity of the trade. You traded for AD at his highest point in the last 5 years.
IDIOTS!!!!
You traded a 25-year-old coming off his first serious injury for a 32-year-old on his only healthy ironman stretch in 5 years.
Trading Harden or Russ at 25 would have been INSANE TOO.
You don't win titles with 1 player.
Russ is currently sitting in 2nd place in the Western Conference.
Last year's 5 man all NBA 1st team included 4 foreigners and 1 American.
Jokic is Serbian and the game's best player by a decent margin.
Luka is Slovenian and 3rd in MVP.
Shai was 2nd in MVP as a Canadian.
Giannis is Greek and a former MVP
Jayson Tatum. --the sole American
As to the younger 1st contract guys Wemby -France is 1 with a bullet.
There is an entire discussion of moving the All-Star game to being US vs the World.
Luka's playoff stats are the 2nd best in NBA history behind only Micheal Jordan. He averages 31 points, 9.8 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game. And on defense he averages 1.6 steals a game and .5 blocks.
Some things are debatable, and some things are shades are gray... this is neither of those things.
FWIW you are clearly the Mavs copium fan. Hoping that somehow a miracle occurs and this AD plus Kyrie duo can carry this team deep in the playoffs this year or next.
I get it. My dad is the same way. He loved Luka but he's a diehard Mavs fan who loves basketball as his primary sport and primary form of entertainment.
He's legit hurting so I feel for those fans like him and yourself who haven't fully faced reality yet.
Because the only draft picks the Mavs own ARE the next 2 years. After that they are out of picks exactly when it appears a rebuild would be needed.
When I say this trade violated EVERY tenant of basketball 101 it absolutely does.
You traded the better, younger player at his low for an older, lesser player at his peak.
You positioned yourself poorly for the near-time(relying totally on Kyrie and AD to be healthy) and the long-term (not getting real future assets back when 4-5 1sts should have been the bare minimum asking price.
I do not wish Nico dead. I was a huge fan of his work(minus letting Brunson hit free agency) prior to this trade. But I also realize he won't be here and will go on with his life quite happily not having to watch happens in Dallas while he is gone. We have some of the richest ownership in the NBA, but they didn't want to pay Luka so will gladly pay Niko to take that fall. Niko will end up back on the West coast with Luka. Meanwhile Mavs fans will suffer. similar to what happened in the 90s pre-Dirk.
