Mark Cuban opened up about how close the Mavs came to acquiring Kobe Bryant during the 2007 offseasonKobe Bryant (Image Credit: Imagn)
Kobe Bryant spent his entire 20-year NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers. However, despite his legendary status with the Lakers, there was a time when a trade involving Kobe almost became reality. The Dallas Mavericks were reportedly a key part of that story.

The minority owner of the Mavericks, Mark Cuban, opened up about how close the franchise came to acquiring Bryant during the 2007 offseason. Speaking on a podcast alongside Shaquille O’Neal, Cuban shared details about the proposed trade. The proposed deal reportedly included key Mavericks players Josh Howard and Jason Terry, along with draft picks.

“Do you realize how close we were to trading for Kobe in 2007? I was literally this close. I talked to Jerry Buss and worked something out with Jerry because Kobe had asked to leave. Jerry said, ‘Ok if you want to leave, we’ll take care of it.’ And so I talked to him, and it was going to be Josh Howard and Jason Terry and picks and no Dirk, ’cause I said, ‘Anybody but Dirk,” Cuban said.

But the trade was ultimately blocked by Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak. Kupchak personally intervened and persuaded Kobe to stay in Los Angeles.

“I remember telling this dude, ‘Guess what? Kobe’s going to be a Mav. And I literally thought it was done. And then, Mitch Kupchak stepped up and said, ‘We can’t do this.’ Talked Kobe out of it. The rest is history,’” he added.

Kobe Bryant Reflected On Championship Mindset

Kobe Bryant Kobe Bryant (Image Credit: Imagn)

In a candid interview with the New York Times, Kobe Bryant shared his insightful perspective on what it truly takes for an athlete to be part of a championship-caliber team. He highlighted the difficult decisions players must weigh when deciding their career paths.

“It’s really important for an athlete to know if this is something they want to do in terms of building a contender. Do they want to win a championship right now? Or do they want to get you in and wait another three or four years?” Kobe said.

This balance was key to Kobe’s enduring success in the league. From winning five NBA championships to mentoring younger teammates, Kobe’s journey exemplified the value of patience in pursuing greatness.