‘He didn’t want to leave’ – Shannon Sharpe sounds off on Mavs for blindsiding ‘hurt’ Luka Doncic after 45-point revenge game
Shannon Sharpe has accused the Dallas Mavericks of ‘blindsiding’ Luka Doncic with his trade to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Slovenian star returned to American Airlines Center on Wednesday night for the first time since his earth-shattering move to Los Angeles in February. Doncic was emotional on his return to Dallas, and was seen in tears before tip-offGetty Doncic appeared emotional and tears flowed down his face as the Mavs played a two-minute tribute video for him before his pre-game introduction. It’s clear that he’s still getting over the heartbreak after suddenly being shipped away from the city he hoped would be his NBA home forever. But despite all the emotion, the five-time All-Star put up 45 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists in a historic performance as he led the Lakers to a 112-97 win, clinching a playoff spot in the process. Post-game, Sharpe likened his trade to the Lakers as the end of a personal relationship that has left Doncic seriously hurt. “The (end of a) relationship is most hurtful to the person that doesn’t want to leave,” the NFL legend began. “See, if you’re ready to get out of the relationship, ain’t no skin off your back. “But when you’re not ready… it’s hard. You’re like ‘What can I do?’ In a situation like this, they blindsided Luka. “It hurts the individual that doesn’t want to leave the relationship. To see him that emotional, it tells me he didn’t want to leave, even though he was going to the Lakers.” Sharpe also hit out at the Mavericks for coming up with excuses to move the star on, despite the fact Doncic took them to the NBA Finals last year, where he equaled a Hall of Famer’s stunning record. He continued: “Even though he was going to the Lakers, which is probably the most storied franchise, if not Boston or the Knicks, the most storied franchise than the NBA. Doncic made his return to Dallas for the first time since being traded to the Lakers in FebruaryGetty The Mavericks and their fans paid tribute to him before the gameGetty Doncic went on to put up 45 points against his old teamGetty “Even though he was going there, he was like, ‘Bro, this is my home’. I think he had just closed on a $15million pad or something out there in Dallas. He didn’t want to leave. “All of a sudden, y’all come up with all these reasons (for trading Doncic). “I don’t care what it was, do y’all see the numbers? ‘I just took you to the NBA Finals two years ago. We were in the Western Conference Finals and this is what you think of me?'” While Doncic was clearly emotional on his return to Dallas, he put those feelings aside to equal a 60-year Wilt Chaberlain record. Thanks to his 45 points against the Mavs, he became the first NBA player since Chamberlain in 1964-65 to score that many points for and against the same team in one season. Doncic put up 45 for Dallas in a win over the Golden State Warriors in December, and was then traded to the Lakers in February, before returning to drop 45 on his old team. Luka’s 45 points against the Mavs matched a 60-year Chamberlain recordGetty Sharpe suggested Doncic had been ‘blindsided’ by his trade to the LakersYouTube: Nightcap Chamberlain, meanwhile, scored 63 points for the San Francisco Warriors against the Philadelphia 76ers in November of the 1964-1965 season. He was then traded to the 76ers midway through the year, and scored 48 points in a win over the Cincinnati Royals in March. In the 60 years since, no one else had managed that, until Doncic on Wednesday night. Speaking after the game, he admitted that he didn’t think he would be able to perform after the emotional tribute before tip-off. “I don’t know how I did it. Because when I was watching that video, I was like, ‘There’s no way I’m playing this game'”, he said. “I love these fans, I love this city, but it’s time to move on. “So many emotions. I can’t explain it. It brought tears to my eyes. I came here as a young kid, 18, not knowing what to expect from the NBA. They made me feel like home. “I have a lot of great, great memories.”
Shannon Sharpe has accused the Dallas Mavericks of ‘blindsiding’ Luka Doncic with his trade to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Slovenian star returned to American Airlines Center on Wednesday night for the first time since his earth-shattering move to Los Angeles in February.
Doncic appeared emotional and tears flowed down his face as the Mavs played a two-minute tribute video for him before his pre-game introduction.
It’s clear that he’s still getting over the heartbreak after suddenly being shipped away from the city he hoped would be his NBA home forever.
But despite all the emotion, the five-time All-Star put up 45 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists in a historic performance as he led the Lakers to a 112-97 win, clinching a playoff spot in the process.
Post-game, Sharpe likened his trade to the Lakers as the end of a personal relationship that has left Doncic seriously hurt.
“The (end of a) relationship is most hurtful to the person that doesn’t want to leave,” the NFL legend began.
“See, if you’re ready to get out of the relationship, ain’t no skin off your back.
“But when you’re not ready… it’s hard. You’re like ‘What can I do?’ In a situation like this, they blindsided Luka.
“It hurts the individual that doesn’t want to leave the relationship. To see him that emotional, it tells me he didn’t want to leave, even though he was going to the Lakers.”
Sharpe also hit out at the Mavericks for coming up with excuses to move the star on, despite the fact Doncic took them to the NBA Finals last year, where he equaled a Hall of Famer’s stunning record.
He continued: “Even though he was going to the Lakers, which is probably the most storied franchise, if not Boston or the Knicks, the most storied franchise than the NBA.
“Even though he was going there, he was like, ‘Bro, this is my home’. I think he had just closed on a $15million pad or something out there in Dallas. He didn’t want to leave.
“All of a sudden, y’all come up with all these reasons (for trading Doncic).
“I don’t care what it was, do y’all see the numbers? ‘I just took you to the NBA Finals two years ago. We were in the Western Conference Finals and this is what you think of me?'”
While Doncic was clearly emotional on his return to Dallas, he put those feelings aside to equal a 60-year Wilt Chaberlain record.
Thanks to his 45 points against the Mavs, he became the first NBA player since Chamberlain in 1964-65 to score that many points for and against the same team in one season.
Doncic put up 45 for Dallas in a win over the Golden State Warriors in December, and was then traded to the Lakers in February, before returning to drop 45 on his old team.
Chamberlain, meanwhile, scored 63 points for the San Francisco Warriors against the Philadelphia 76ers in November of the 1964-1965 season.
He was then traded to the 76ers midway through the year, and scored 48 points in a win over the Cincinnati Royals in March.
In the 60 years since, no one else had managed that, until Doncic on Wednesday night.
Speaking after the game, he admitted that he didn’t think he would be able to perform after the emotional tribute before tip-off.
“I don’t know how I did it. Because when I was watching that video, I was like, ‘There’s no way I’m playing this game'”, he said.
“I love these fans, I love this city, but it’s time to move on.
“So many emotions. I can’t explain it. It brought tears to my eyes. I came here as a young kid, 18, not knowing what to expect from the NBA. They made me feel like home.
“I have a lot of great, great memories.”
