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[Saba Sports News] Dwyane Wade didn’t hold back when analyzing the shocking Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade, offering a unique perspective on how this deal wasn’t just about basketball—it was a calculated business play by NBA owners.
On his show *The Why with Dwyane Wade*, the Hall of Famer made it clear: this trade wasn’t orchestrated by players, agents, or even front offices. It was a billionaire-driven decision, rooted in business strategy, global appeal, and long-term league dominance.
“Before all the reports came out, I said to myself—no players were involved in this decision; this is billionaires’ business,” Wade explained. “For the last 12 to 15 years, the players have dictated where they want to go. This time, the owners, the governors, the billionaires decided what they wanted to do.”
Wade broke down the bigger picture: the NBA’s U.S. viewership has dipped, but its global presence is stronger than ever. With international superstars dominating the league, placing Luka Doncic—one of the biggest international names—on the Los Angeles Lakers, the league’s marquee franchise, was a no-brainer business move.
“Luka was number six in jersey sales in Dallas. Now? He jumps to number one in Lakers jerseys,” Wade pointed out. “The international market—Europe, Spain—they’re all coming into LA.”
He also noted how this trade aligns with the NBA’s long-term vision. The NFL owns America, but the NBA owns the world. With LeBron James nearing the twilight of his career, the league needs a new global face—and Doncic, now in the sport’s biggest market, is primed to take that role.
“You get 10 years of Luka being the face of the Lakers,” Wade explained. “And you pair him with LeBron, the guy who’s been the face of the league, who can show him how to take care of himself and carry that mantle forward.”
Perhaps the most telling part? Neither Luka, LeBron, nor AD saw this trade coming. Unlike past player-driven movements, this was a top-down decision made by the league’s most powerful figures.
Basketball purists might argue whether Dallas made the right move, but one thing is clear—this wasn’t just a basketball trade. It was a billion-dollar power play designed to secure the NBA’s global future. And according to Wade, it was “genius.”