Featured Columnist IVFebruary 4, 2025
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Golden State Warriors celebrity guard Stephen Curry chimed in Monday night time concerning the blockbuster commerce that shook the NBA to its core Saturday.
When requested by reporters for his ideas on the commerce that despatched guard Luka Dončić from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Curry stated: “It is a reminder that there are only some on this league that may fall asleep with any kind of confidence that you’re going to nonetheless be there. It is type of a extremely distinctive scenario throughout the board. The concept that it occurred in silence is fairly loopy.”
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Steph Curry on the Luka Dončić commerce: “It is a reminder that there are only some on this league that may fall asleep with any kind of confidence.” pic.twitter.com/JDwswnwRq8
Previous to ESPN’s Shams Charania breaking information of the commerce on Saturday night time, there hadn’t been any rumors on the market concerning a possible Dončić commerce.
Dončić is a 25-year-old celebrity who simply final season led the NBA with 33.9 factors per sport, completed third within the NBA MVP voting and took the Mavericks to the NBA Finals.
He has been out of motion since December attributable to a calf harm, however the five-time All-Star has nonetheless been extremely productive when wholesome this season, averaging 28.1 factors, 8.3 rebounds, 7.8 assists, 3.4 three-pointers made and a couple of.0 steals per sport.
The commerce offers Dallas’ roster a bit extra variety since Davis might be an inside complement to protect Kyrie Irving’s exterior sport, however provided that Davis will flip 32 in March, the deal possible shortens the Mavs’ championship window.
The alternative is true for the Lakers, who now have two ball-dominant gamers in Dončić and LeBron James.
It’s unclear how effectively they are going to mesh collectively, however even when buying and selling Davis for Dončić doesn’t pay rapid dividends, it’s straightforward to grasp why Los Angeles made the transfer from a long-term perspective.
Had the Lakers moved ahead with a core of James and Davis, they possible would have wanted to reset the roster upon James retirement.
Now, supplied Dončić indicators a long-term extension with the Lakers, the group can have one other celebrity able to take over for LeBron as soon as he steps away.
An argument might be made for the Mavs being higher outfitted to win this season with Davis and Irving main the way in which, though it’s removed from a certainty provided that the Dončić-Irving combo made it to the Finals simply final season.
Curry, 36, is a four-time NBA champion, two-time NBA MVP and arguably the best shooter in NBA historical past, so he could also be one of many only a few gamers within the league protected from a shock commerce.
The truth is, Curry and James often is the solely two gamers in that class, though not even that’s sure on the heels of one of many league’s largest stars getting traded seemingly from out of nowhere.
