Draymond recalls hilarious KD-to-Warriors mix-up after Luka trade
Draymond recalls hilarious KD-to-Warriors mix-up after Luka trade originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The blockbuster trade that sent Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers stunned the entire NBA and sports world, but perhaps no one was as confused as Draymond Green.
Advertisement
However, Green's bewilderment stemmed from a reason beyond the actual trade and more from a hypothetical one.
The Warriors star forward joined 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' and hilariously recalled how his confusion unraveled thanks to a little premature information from Golden State majority owner Joe Lacob.
'When it first happened, we were at a Warriors charity poker tournament,' Green remembered. 'I had just saw Joe Lacob 10 minutes before this happened. Joe gets excited. Joe goes, 'Draymond, I think we're going to get Kevin Durant. It's right there at the finish line. It's happening. We're getting Kevin Durant back.' I'm like, 'Oh, man. Here we go. Let's go.' And we talk about it. He asks if I think it'll work. I said absolutely. He leaves, he comes running back two minutes later like, 'Draymond! Draymond! I wasn't supposed to say anything. Don't say nothing to nobody.' I'm like, 'Joe, I got you. I won't say anything to anyone.'
'So we're at this tournament and I go sit down and about 15 minutes later, Steph yells, 'Draymond, you see the trade?' And I go, 'It happened?' Steph goes, 'Wait, who?' I said, 'Oh, never mind, nobody. What happened?' And he's like, 'Luka got traded.' '
Whew.
Advertisement
You can only imagine the emotional rollercoaster Green endured over those 20 minutes or so.
First, he had to fathom the thought that Durant was returning to the Bay, where he helped bring two championships, to then — like so many others — try and wrap his head around Dončić and LeBron James teaming up, to finally realizing that Durant was, in fact, not on his way to San Francisco.
What a whirlwind.
'I couldn't believe it, I thought Shams was hacked,' Green said of the Dallas Mavericks trading Dončić. 'There's videos out at the charity event of us reacting. I couldn't believe it. Superstars at 25 don't get traded. Luka's a megastar.
Advertisement
'Then I thought, 'I have to be next if Luka's getting traded. It's coming for me soon.' '
To be fair to Lacob, several reports indicated that Durant's return to the Warriors was a possibility before the 15-time NBA All-Star turned down a reunion.
Maybe next time, Lacob will wait for the trade to be official before spilling any premature beans.
Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
22 minutes ago
- USA Today
What are draft experts saying about Sixers prospect VJ Edgecombe?
What are draft experts saying about Sixers prospect VJ Edgecombe? When it comes to the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NBA draft, the Philadelphia 76ers will have plenty of options. They can turn to the likes of Rutgers star Ace Bailey--or his teammate Dylan Harper if the San Antonio Spurs have different plans at No. 2--Duke's Kon Knueppel, or Baylor's VJ Edgecombe. Bailey has been the popular option for the Sixers in most mock drafts, but the other names mentioned--outside of Harper--have been options as well. The Sixers will be looking to add a talented young piece to a roster in need of youth, and while Bailey has been a popular choice, one has reason to believe that Edgecombe could be a better player long term. Here's what the draft experts at The Ringer have to say about Edgecombe: The smooth, frictionless explosion off one or two feet. The sheer elevation. The paraglider hang time. Edgecombe's run-jump ability is a sight to behold—there may be only a handful of players in the NBA who can match his blend of dynamic athleticism. He has absolute trust in his physical gifts, which grants him a certain level of on-court freedom not afforded to most players. Under those auspices, Edgecombe has honed an anticipatory sixth sense most commonly seen in shutdown cornerbacks. He has the skills, motor, and reaction speed to become one of the best shot-blocking guards in the NBA, to go along with his passing-lane ball hawking. And he has more of a proof of concept than most NCAA players his age, having shown off these abilities at some of the highest levels of international competition. Edgecombe was, at worst, the third-best player on the Bahamian national basketball team in the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, on a roster that also featured Deandre Ayton, Buddy Hield, and Eric Gordon. Edgecombe averaged a superb 2.1 steals per game in 2024-25 for the Bears and one has to wonder how that will translate to the league. He has the potential to be an absolute terror on the defensive end of the floor and one has to believe he is going to be able to be a candidate for the All-Defensive Team every year. He also has an ability to knock down an open 3 so that will be a big help.
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Dominique Wilkins Says LeBron James Is A Sidekick For The Lakers After Luka Doncic Trade
Dominique Wilkins Says LeBron James Is A Sidekick For The Lakers After Luka Doncic Trade originally appeared on Fadeaway World. As a 4x champion, 4x MVP, and 21x All-Star, LeBron James has already proven himself as one of the game's all-time greatest players, and his status as a superstar is undeniable. At 40 years old, however, the situation is changing for James, and he now finds himself in a reduced role in the wake of the Luka Doncic trade that shifted the Lakers' balance of power. Advertisement 'It's definitely Luka's team," said Wilkins in a chat with Kyle Odegard of Esports Insider. "A 25-year-old guy compared to a guy who is 40. You should be willing to hand over those ranks to him. I don't think that's even a question. I think that's what the plan is.' Nobody knew the Lakers were on track to get Doncic at the time, but the news eventually broke after a week of negotiations between Rob Pelinka and Nico Harrison. Wilkins, like the rest of us, was shocked by the deal and believes his arrival in Los Angeles sets them on a path to contention for the next 10+ years. 'Like everybody across the world, I was shocked," said Wilkins. "Luka, 25 years old and one of the top five or six players in the league. You trade a player like that? That's a tough one to digest. Everybody was shocked, and maybe there was something there we don't know. Who knows? But wherever he plays, they are going to be a team that has a chance.' When the Lakers acquired Anthony Davis in 2018, they had plans for him to step up and slowly take the reins of leadership from LeBron. In several years together, however, Davis always played more of a sidekick role while King James ran the show both on the court and in the locker room. Advertisement Now, Luka Doncic will take on those responsibilities, and it means LeBron will have to adjust just like Dwyane Wade did during their days on the Heat. With averages of 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game this past season, LeBron saw a dip in his numbers across the board, and that trend will likely continue as Luka takes full control of the offense next season. At 26 years old and in the prime of his career, Doncic is much more equipped to lead the Lakers daily, just like he led the Mavericks for the first seven years of his career before his shocking trade out of town. As an elite scorer and brilliant passer, Doncic is an ideal choice to run the offense, and his ability to deliver in the clutch makes him an easy choice late in games. At this stage of his career, the best way LeBron can help his team is by maximizing his role as the secondary star and finding a way to make Doncic's life easier, however, he can. It's uncharted territory for King James, who has been the main attraction in each of his previous seasons. Whether he likes it or not, the Lakers are Luka's team now, and all of their planning and team building will revolve around maximizing his game. As someone who just wants to win another championship, LeBron has embraced this new reality, and he's doing everything he can to perfect his new role as quickly as possible. Related: LeBron James Praises Luka Doncic For His Ability To Dictate Game Tempo This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
LeBron Shuts Down The 'No Bag' Talk: "I'm Sitting Here With 50 Billion Points"
LeBron Shuts Down The 'No Bag' Talk: "I'm Sitting Here With 50 Billion Points" originally appeared on Fadeaway World. LeBron James is done listening to people claim he has 'no bag.' On the latest episode of Mind The Game, the all-time NBA scoring king finally addressed the long-running internet narrative questioning his creativity and dribble package. In true LeBron fashion, he didn't raise his voice, he raised the bar. Advertisement "When I was growing up, it wasn't talked about it. The least amount of dribbles to get where you need to get to was what I grew up on." "Michael Jordan wasn't out there dribbling 1,000 times, you know, to get to the spot. He'd get to a spot and raise. Isiah Thomas, as great of a handle that Isiah Thomas had, Isiah would get to a spot and raise." "All these guys that I grew up on, Grant Hill, get to a spot, I'm bigger than you. Big Dog Robinson, I'm bigger than you. Allen Houston, all these great players, that I grew up watching and admiring." "Penny Hardaway, they could dribble the basketball, but there's no... Tracy McGrady, even as great as Tracy's handle was, it was, I'm bigger than you, I'm gonna get to the spot and the least amount of dribbles." Advertisement "Kevin Garnett... Just good footwork, get over the top. If I'm bigger than you and I get you on my shoulder, I get you on my hip, I'm gonna use my size." "I see it all the time. It's like, you know, I'll be on social media, like, LeBron has no bag. LeBron has no bag and I'm sitting over here with 50 billion points." That's not hyperbole. LeBron James has amassed 52,243 career points, a mind-boggling number that includes 42,184 in the regular season and 8,289 in the playoffs. That's over 50,000 points in the NBA alone. Add in his points for Team USA, All-Star Games, the In-Season Tournament, and various exhibition and international games, and the total vaults well beyond the 52K mark. To put it simply, if LeBron has no bag, then basketball doesn't need one. Advertisement What triggered LeBron's subtle roast of the internet critics was a deeper discussion about how offensive basketball was taught and understood in his generation. He pointed out that players he admired growing up like Michael Jordan, Penny Hardaway, Grant Hill, and Tracy McGrady, all emphasized efficiency over flash. He mentioned legends like Allen Houston and 'Big Dog' Glenn Robinson, who dominated their matchups by using size, footwork, and precision, not a flurry of crossovers or highlight-reel ankle breakers. Even someone like Isiah Thomas, known for his handle, played within a framework that emphasized getting to a spot with purpose. In that context, LeBron sees himself not as lacking a bag, but simply operating from a different philosophy. Advertisement The comments are a timely reminder that "bag" talk — especially the internet's obsession with flashy dribbling and aesthetic shot creation — often ignores the actual results. LeBron didn't need to dance with the ball. He bulldozed, he glided, he orchestrated, and he dominated. From post fades to downhill drives, from bullet passes to chase-down blocks, LeBron's game is built on control, versatility, and overwhelming impact. And while social media might be fixated on who has the deepest handle or slickest combo, LeBron is focused on the scoreboard and history. Whether or not someone wants to call it a 'bag,' LeBron's point is simple: the man with over 50,000 points, four championships, and a two-decade run of dominance doesn't need to prove his artistry. He is the canvas. Related: Dominique Wilkins Says LeBron James Is A Sidekick For The Lakers After Luka Doncic Trade This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
