Shaq made a bold prophecy about what the Slovenian superstar will someday earn
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The NBA world was shaken this week by the news that the Los Angeles Lakers had acquired Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in a trade.
As part of the deal, the Lakers sent five-time All-NBA power forward/centre Anthony Davis to the Mavericks, along with shooting guard Max Christie and one first round pick.
Despite the package they gave up, however, most fans and pundits were shocked that the Lakers were able to sign a player of Doncic’s calibre and standing at all, let alone without having to sacrifice more future draft capital.
Doncic is just 25 years of age, yet he is already a five-time First Team All-NBA selection – that’s more, for example, than Golden State Warriors superstar Steph Curry, who is 11 years older – and was just last year the driving force behind Dallas’ run to the NBA finals, leading league in points, rebounds, assists and steals per game in the playoffs.
Luka Doncic has made a shock trade to LA Lakers. Image: Getty
The Slovenian point guard is a generational talent who will now wear the famous purple and gold, playing alongside LeBron James before leading the Lakers into their next era once the 40-year-old four-time MVP eventually retires.
Such is Doncic’s vast talent and sky-high potential that just last year another Lakers legend, Shaquille O’Neal, predicted that the then-Mavericks star would soon set a new record for yearly salary in the NBA.
“Luka Doncic is gonna be the first $90 million player,” O’Neal said on an episode of The Big Podcast with Shaq.
However, Doncic’s move to Los Angeles will actually hurt him financially. NBA players who remain with the team that drafted them for a minimum of seven years are eligible for a so-called “super-max” contract, so long as they have earned All-NBA selection the year before they renew their deals.
At present, Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics owns the biggest super-max deal in history, having recently signed a contract that will see him earn $71 million in the fifth and final year of the agreement.
Now that Doncic is no longer with the team that drafted him – with the Mavericks having traded with the Atlanta Hawks to select the former Real Madrid youngster with the third overall pick in 2018 – he cannot command the full super-max value, potentially costing the player up to $115 million across the length of his next deal.
With the NBA’s salary cap routinely increasing as revenues rise, though, there remains a chance that Doncic might yet someday reach the level of yearly earnings O’Neal predicted – and that’s before factoring in the additional marketing opportunities the 25-year-old could benefit from upon moving to LA.
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Shaquille O’Neal has one investing rule he follows which has made him millions
Shaq has accumulated a staggering net worth thanks to his off-court business interests
Shaquille O’Neal was one of the most decorated basketball stars of his era, but he he been just as successful away from the court thanks to his savvy investments.
The former NBA icon won four championships and one Most Valuable Player award in a career that included spells with the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat.
Regarded as one of the most dominant big men of all time, the 7ft 1ins centre was among the biggest sports stars in the world during his peak in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
And even though he was once the highest-paid free-agent signing in NBA history when he signed for the Lakers in 1996, the majority of his estimated $500 million net worth has come from his post-career business ventures.
Shaq has responded to the allegations (Image: Getty)
O’Neal’s investment portfolio has included such brands as Ring, Five Guys and Google.
And the ex-basketball star has revealed the philosophy behind his approach to investing.
“I never consider myself an expert at all. I just, I learned the process, whatever the process may be. I create a formula for myself and apply that formula.”
“Like my perfect formula is that I only invest in things that’s going to change people’s life.”
And, interestingly, O’Neil has previously credited Amazon founder Jeff Bezos with being the inspiration behind his hugely successful business philosophy.
“When I first started investing, it was all for monetary purposes only,” O’Neal told Forbes. “You could tell me anything and if it sounded good, I would invest, so I would lose almost every time. Then, later, when I started going to CES in Vegas, I met a young, beautiful man by the name of Jeff Bezos.
“And with all the [business ventures] going fully online, he explained what the future holds. And he said that he invests in things that are going to change people’s lives. And I said, you know what, I’m gonna start doing that. And when I did that, every time I invest in something, it works.
“I invested in [home security company] Ring, because I liked what they were doing and because everybody wants affordable home security that makes them feel like a trillionaire. I like the tech that lets people be out at work and communicate with people when someone rings their doorbell at home or comes to their door. It works for people, and I like that.”
Shaquille O’Neal made telling comment when comparing Luka Doncic to Michael Jordan ahead of LA Lakers trade
Shaquille O’Neal compared Luka Doncic to Michael Jordan following his blockbuster trade to the LA Lakers.
Shaquille O’Neal made a telling comment when comparing Luka Doncic to Michael Jordan following his LA Lakers trade.
Doncic, a five-time NBA All-Star, has joined the Lakers in a stunning three-way trade deal.
He moves from the Dallas Mavericks, with Anthony Davis moving in the opposite direction, along with Max Christie.
The Mavericks also get a 2029 first-round draft pick while Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris will head to the Lakers.
The blockbuster trade also includes the Utah Jazz, who land Lakers’ Jalen Hood-Schifino and a pair of second-round picks in this year’s draft.
Naturally, fans and critics alike have reacted to Doncic’s trade, including basketball legends O’Neal and Charles Barkley, who urged the Slovenian star to focus on operating with the ball rather than solely relying on scoring.
“The Maverick frustrate me so much ’cause they should be so much better,” he explained. “We make a big deal out of Luka’s numbers; his numbers should be going down… he’s gotta do a much better job getting rid of the ball, using those other guys. They’re playing the same way when they didn’t have any talent… as great as he is, he has got to learn to play without the basketball.
“When you play with better players as a great player, the game should be easier, not harder; your numbers should go down not up… that’s why they’re losing.”
Luca Doncic has joined the LA Lakers. Image: Getty
O’Neal, on the other hand, argued Barkley’s claim as he referenced Jordan’s legendary career.
“I disagree.” he said. “Kyrie and Luka, they both have the same problem. They do what great players do, but they just don’t do what the greatest players do.
“I don’t think their numbers should go down. If you’re gonna care for your numbers like that, you should be able to do both, and it’s been done. Michael Jordan’s numbers didn’t go down when he started winning.”