NBA star Shaquille O’Neal revealed on the Big Podcast that he almost joined Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks after his time with the Los Angeles Lakers. This potential move could have greatly changed the NBA, but it never came to be. Despite not teaming up, both players ended their careers with impressive stats.
O’Neal, famous for his strong play, wanted to team up with Nowitzki in Dallas. He said, “Trust me, I tried to get to Dallas many times. Me and Mark was working behind the scenes. Right after I left L.A., Mark was the first person I called. …“
However, the Lakers were unwilling to trade O’Neal to another team in the Western Conference. O’Neal remembered Cuban telling him, “The Lakers won’t do it, man.” To which O’Neal replied, “F**k make them do it, Mark.“
Ultimately, the Lakers sent O’Neal to the Miami Heat because they didn’t want to help a rival team, even though Dallas had the room and players needed for the trade.
If the trade had happened, O’Neal and Nowitzki could have been a powerful duo in the NBA, possibly changing the league’s history.
Shaquille O’Neal And Dirk Nowitzki’s Legendary Careers Despite The Missed Opportunity
Now, both players can laugh about what didn’t happen, knowing they still had great careers. After the failed trade, O’Neal won his fourth NBA title with the Miami Heat in 2006, while Nowitzki helped the Mavericks win a championship in 2011.
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Looking at their stats, Shaquille O’Neal averaged 23.7 points per game (PPG), 10.9 rebounds per game (RPG), and 2.5 assists per game (APG) with a shooting percentage of 58.2%. He scored a total of 28,596 points, ranking 8th all-time, along with 13,099 rebounds (15th all-time), 2,732 blocks (8th all-time), and 3,026 assists.
In comparison, Dirk Nowitzki averaged 20.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, and 2.4 APG, with a shooting percentage of 47.1%. He ended his career with 31,560 points, ranking 6th all-time, along with 11,489 rebounds and 3,651 assists.
The near-trade of Shaquille O’Neal to the Dallas Mavericks is one of the most interesting “what if” stories in NBA history.
O’Neal’s and Cuban’s efforts, along with the Lakers’ hesitation, led to different paths for both players. Nonetheless, both legends had amazing careers and made a lasting impact on basketball.
