Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban claims he was extremely close to landing Kobe Bryant after Bryant demanded a trade in 2007.

Believe it or not, the Los Angeles Lakers nearly traded Kobe Bryant in 2007. The Lakers were in the middle of a competitive drought in ’07, having not won a title since the three-peat led by Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal from 2000 to 2002.

During his 20-year playing career with the Los Angeles Lakers, superstar guard Kobe Bryant won five NBA titles and arguably put himself in the

Dallas Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban explained how they missed out on LA Lakers legend Kobe Bryant in 2007.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban explains the strategic shift that transformed the team's season and fueled their run to the 2024 NBA Finals.

On a recent podcast appearance, Mark Cuban told a story about how Kobe Bryant was almost traded from the Lakers to the Mavericks back in 2007.

Mark Cuban recently revealed details about the Dallas Mavericks’ near acquisition of Kobe Bryant in 2007. Cuban, who is now a part-owner of the Mavericks after selling a majority stake last year, brought up the topic during an appearance on Shaquille O’Neal’s “The Big Podcast.

At that time, Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, saw an opportunity to acquire one of the greatest players in NBA history. In a conversation with Bryant's longtime teammate, Shaquille O'Neal,

You know how close we were to trading for Kobe in 2007. Oh my God, it was like literally this close. I talked to Jerry Buss and worked something out. Kobe wanted to leave. Jerry

Kobe Bryant spent his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning five NBA championships and becoming a symbol of loyalty to the franchise. The Lakers traded for Bryant from the Charlotte Hornets with the 13th pick in the 1996 NBA Draft,