Tyrese Haliburton said it best: “Shams got hacked??” Nope. ESPN’s top insider was spot on. Luka Doncic is a Laker. Anthony Davis is a Maverick. Feels like a fever dream, right? Even Giannis Antetokounmpo had to double-check. Because seriously—how do you trade the guy who led you to the Finals just seven months ago?  The biggest trade in NBA history just dropped. And now, the Greek Freak’s wheels are turning.

Antetokounmpo couldn’t believe it. “I thought it was fake news. It’s insane,” he expressed to The Athletic’s Bucks beat writer Eric Nehm in the post-game presser. He’s battled Luka. He’s battled AD. Yet here they were, swapping jerseys in the wildest trade ever. “This is the world we’re living in. It’s a business… nobody’s safe.” The Greek Freak kept it real—every player is under the microscope. “You get evaluated every single day. You don’t take anything for granted.” Not the All-Star nods. Not the jersey. Not even your spot on the team.

Meanwhile, Nikola Jokic should be all-ears to his European rival’s advice. Given the recent turn of events, Giannis Antetokounmpo has a special request for the Denver Nuggets’ Serbian supergiant. Maybe, now is the time to find your way out of Mike Malone’s umbrella, and become a Knickerbocker instead. Giannis has a dream, so he asks Nehm if he knows what the Greek Freak wants. “I want Luka to the Lakers. I want Jokic to the Knicks. And, I want all the Europeans in big markets.” Just imagine the chaos. The rivalries. The storylines. “This is what I want. This is my dream.” But for now, reality stays put. “I wish both teams the best. I wish all the players the best.”

But, why this sudden urge? Giannis had to lighten the mood. “Now that a European will be, I believe, the face of the Lakers, this is something new for Europe. It’s never happened before.” Sure, Pau Gasol was great, he played alongside Kobe Bryant. But Luka? That’s something unique in this generation. “I just love it,” the 30-year-old Bucks superstar shared.

However, there can’t be a ‘double standard’ while talking about the NBA business. Giannis Antetokounmpo also added: “Every second I play, I love it.” But he gets it—basketball is a business. “Teams need to make the best moves that are good for their organization.” Players do too. Yet, he won’t stand for the ‘double standard.’ “We cannot crucify the person and say that he’s not loyal and he didn’t do the right thing and he let everybody down. Because history has shown you that you have to do what is best for you and your family.” Loyalty? That’s personal.

Now, coming back to Antetokounmpo’s interesting request for the Joker and his dreams for European hoopers. The NBA wants to expand to the land across the Atlantic, that’s not even a secret anymore. And, more players like Luka Doncic or Jokic could open more opportunities, and massive ones, might I add.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, and other European hoopers are a part of the NBA’s bigger picture

In 2013 when Giannis Antetokounmpo joined the Milwaukee Bucks, who knew he would one day become a 2x MVP and a champion? Meanwhile, Doncic’s journey in the league with the Dallas Mavericks in 2019 is also meant for the history books. He took the team to the Western Conference finals and pushed them to the 2024 NBA finals but then the Celtics overpowered. However, Doncic’s contribution to the team is unforgettable. And what else can I say about Nikola Jokic? The superstar of Denver, 3x MVP, and 1x NBA champion. Thus, these results in recent years are pushing Adam Silver to make bigger decisions on league expansion.

Well, not particularly an expansion, but a standalone league in Europe. First off, these teams won’t face NBA squads. Second, it’s just a high-level idea—for now. Signs say the league wants it, but nothing’s set in stone. Third, it has zero ties to Maverick Carter’s international league hunt. The NBA sees money on the table. “The commercial opportunity has not kept pace with the growth of the game,” Adam Silver said in Paris. Their plan? Fix weak media deals, tap into Europe’s market, and reel in foreign investors.

So, what does this mean for the European players? First, an opportunity to play on a greater platform, something bigger than the EuroLeague. Second, a chance to join the NBA if identified as a player of interest. And maybe, who knows we could get a new Pau Gasol, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, or even a Nikola Jokic amongst them. Or maybe, someone who’ll surpass all these stars in the league.

It took on a major trade to turn the scenes of the NBA. Luka Doncic’s move to the Lakers is fueling the dreams of the Greek Freak. Moreover, it is fueling the ambition for the European stars out there, who could become the next big names in the NBA. But, Jokic’s move to the Knicks? That’s far-fetched for now. Moreover, Coach Malone wouldn’t want to trade for his 3x MVP, or maybe he would. Who knows?