Is the NBA trade process a risky one? Each year provides an instance that answers in the affirmative. Acquiring a sought-after player can cause problems for a franchise, as seeking a key athlete can cause a team to miss out on an available one, a complete ‘loss-loss’. Even a self-made billionaire had to face disappointment in this hoops domain, as an opportunity to set a future golden roster containing both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic slipped right through his hands.

Mark Cuban revealed how he was looking to add a center in 2013 that would pair up perfectly with Dirk Nowitzki. With the NBA Champion being in his mid-30s by then, the need was for a younger player that would complement the veteran. Cuban eventually decided that then-Laker Dwight Howard would be the guy, making use of the franchise’s much-awaited free cap space to entice the player. But this pursuit caused him to miss out on Antetokounmpo, who turned out to be a massive name.

“We had cap room finally. We had never had cap room since the time I’d been there and, um, we thought we had something worked out with him and we actually traded down in the draft to get enough cap room and missed on The Greek Freak, on Giannis, because of it,” Cuban admitted on the Roommates Show.

“Because there were a bunch of guys in our draft room that wanted to go with Giannis and I was like, and it was on me, because I was like ‘Look, we got Dirk, he’s not 21 anymore. We need to try to get him a center by him because that’s what we’ve always needed.’ And boom, you know, it didn’t happen, and Giannis is Giannis.”

Coming into the NBA, Giannis Antetokounmpo was not someone who fans were quick to give a second thought about. After all, not only did he originate from Filathlitikos, but he was also one of the youngest players to ever be drafted in the NBA, making his debut 54 days before his 19 birthday. This may be a reason, alongside the emphasis on a Center, why Mark Cuban did not bring in Giannis.

However, if he had waited just a few years, he would have seen the ‘Greek Freak’ in all his glory. After being named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, it only took him 2 additional seasons to take his average above 20 points, and he never turned back. Today, averaging no less than 30.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists, he stands as a former Champion, a 2x MVP, and 8x NBA All-Star.

Along with Nikola Jokic, the Milwaukee Bucks star has been one of Luka Doncic’s most intense European rivals on the NBA court. Even as Giannis leads the contest with a 7-2 win record, the Slovenian did not shy away from handing out his flowers and calling him “the best player in the NBA” in 2022. A team-up between the duo would have gone a long way in improving the Mavs’ chances, and the franchise wouldn’t have to wait for 13 years simply to get to the Finals.

However, as it turns out, Mark Cuban may not have been the only key member of the Mavericks whose opinion deterred the management from acquiring the Greek Freak.

Did Dirk Nowitzki have a good first impression of Giannis Antetokounmpo?

Being the lead scorer and the player who helped the Mavericks secure their only NBA championship, Dirk Nowitzki held a whole lot of influence back in 2013. With the franchise two years past its Championship season and possessing a 41-41 record, his opinion about how the team could’ve been improved mattered. Unfortunately, whether it was his intention or not, the German’s claim about Giannis then may have been a catalyst in the Dallas franchise’s decision to not consider him as a potential draft pick.

The Hall of Famer revealed being in the draft room in 2013. Having not performed well in the previous season, the Mavs were allowed to take a first-round pick from high up. As one of the General Managers suggested picking Giannis, Nowitzki himself wanted to see what the then-18-year-old could do.

“He puts on the video, and it was this grainy footage from second division in Greece. I’m like, ‘What? This kid is this skinny’” Nowitzki revealed. “‘I’m like, ‘That is hilarious.’” The 46-year-old certainly regrets making that claim now, after having witnessed what the Greek Freek achieved in his 11-year ongoing career.

Would you have liked to see a Giannis-Luka team-up? Let us know in the comments down below.

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.