(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Kobe Bryant Nearly Joined Dallas Mavericks in 2007, Reveals Mark Cuban
In a surprising revelation, former Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban shared that NBA legend Kobe Bryant almost became a Maverick in 2007. The story was discussed on Shaquille O’Neal’s podcast, The Big Podcast with Shaq.
According to Cuban, the deal was “literally this close.” Bryant had reportedly asked to leave the Los Angeles Lakers, and Cuban negotiated with Lakers owner Jerry Buss. The proposed trade would have sent Josh Howard, Jason Terry, and draft picks to Los Angeles, with Dirk Nowitzki remaining untouchable.
Cuban recalled, “I literally remember telling this dude, ‘Guess what? Kobe’s going to be a Mav,’ and I literally thought it was done. Then Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak stepped in and talked Kobe out of it. Rest is history.”
Though the trade never materialized, both franchises enjoyed major success afterward. Bryant added two more NBA championships to his Lakers career in 2009 and 2010, finishing with five titles. Meanwhile, Nowitzki led the Mavericks to their first NBA championship in 2011, cementing both players as icons in their respective franchises.
