In 2013, 34-year-old Kobe Bryant was still an important part of the Los Angeles Lakers. However, the team was still bad, and with the CBA implementing a new luxury tax format, the Lakers had a lot to think about. After all, heading into the 2013-2014 season, they would have paid $85,000,000 in luxury tax. But, an unlikely source Mark Cuban provided a solution that did not sit well with The Black Mamba. So Kobe did what Kobe does and destroyed the Mavs a few nights later before responding emphatically to Cuban on Twitter.
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Bryant had led the Lakers to five NBA Championships at this point in his career. And, as many expected, his intentions were to retire as a Laker lifer. So, when Cuban, who has a net worth of $5,700,000,000 suggested the possibility of getting rid of him, Kobe took it to heart. Making sure no such suggestions were made in the future.
Kobe Bryant destroyed Mark Cuban’s Dallas Mavericks after the latter suggested utilizing the “amnesty clause”
10 years ago, with the 2013-2014 season just around the corner, the Los Angeles Lakers were in a tough situation. Between 2009 and 2013, the franchise paid $85,000,000 in luxury tax. And, in 2013 they would pay a whopping $29,000,000 thanks to the new format introduced by the CBA. So, Mark Cuban, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks came up with a solution.
He suggested that the Lakers get rid of their franchise superstar Kobe Bryant. How? It was simple. By making use of the “amnesty clause” that was present in Mamba’s contract. The amnesty clause allowed teams to remove one player from their team salary, saving them from paying luxury tax on that contract.
A smart suggestion, but one that Cuban would come to regret. Days after voicing his opinion, Kobe, who wasn’t at all happy about hearing it dropped 38 points on 62% shooting against the Mavs. And, after that stellar performance, he took to social media and directly took a shot at the Shark Tank star, mocking him for his suggestion.
Safe to say Cuban didn’t make the same mistake again after that. He learned his lesson, Kobe Bean Bryant is not a player you want to anger, especially with suggestions of getting rid of him.
Mark Cuban tried to recruit Kobe to the Dallas Mavericks back in 2007
Back in 2007, team success was at a low for the LA Lakers. Following the trade of Shaquille O’Neal to the Miami Heat, the Lakers were struggling in the NBA. As such, there were suggestions that Kobe Bryant was looking for a way out. So, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban had the ingenious idea of formulating a trade to bring Kobe to the Mavs in order to team him up with Dirk Nowitzki.
In fact, Cuban believed it was a done deal. However, the Black Mamba was convinced into staying in LA. A great decision, seeing as a season later they would acquire the services of Pau Gasol. And, together they would go on to win two rings together.
It’s hard to imagine Kobe dawning the blue of the Dallas Mavericks. But, thankfully, we didn’t see it happen, or we would have been robbed of some of the most incredible moments in Lakers history.
