Jason Kidd can’t be held responsible for the Luka Doncic trade, although recent comments suggest a tone-deafness
On April 9, Luka Doncic made his first return to Dallas since the Mavericks traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers. The night started with an emotional video tribute, where Doncic was seen visibly weeping, and ended with a 112-97 win, with Doncic scoring 45 points.
The trade that sent Doncic from the only NBA team he has ever known to the Lakers has already been dubbed the worst trade of all time, compared to the legendary trade that sent Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees in 1919.
While Doncic isn’t quite on the same level as Ruth in terms of all-time legacy, the trade could be just as bad. Fans have turned on the Mavericks and are calling for general manager Nico Harrison’s job, and Dallas’ former faithful were openly cheering for Doncic and the Lakers.
After the game, head coach Jason Kidd addressed the historical significance of the trade and totally missed the point.
Usually, being compared to Babe Ruth is a good thing. He headlined the Yankees’ “Murder’s Row” of the 1920s and 1930s, becoming the most recognizable athlete in American history.
However, his success in New York couldn’t have happened without the Boston Red Sox trading him to the Yankees for a paltry $100,000.
While the Lakers and Mavericks trade is one of the worst of all time, the Yankees swindling the Sox is generally regarded as the single worst sporting blunder.
Jason Kidd commented on the comparisons between the Mavericks and the Red Sox.
“This is a business, it happens, right?” Kidd said. “Trades happen, this won’t be the last trade. Some are comparing it to Babe Ruth, which is kind of cool.”
Ruth won four titles with the Yankees after being traded. The Red Sox, meanwhile, went 85 years without a World Series win and more than 40 without a playoff appearance after the Ruth trade.
“The Curse of the Bambino” was blamed for their historical lack of success, with millions of Bostonians going an entire lifetime without ever seeing their team win the World Series.
The Yankees, meanwhile, are the most famous and successful baseball team ever, continuing to dominate into the 21st century.
As the Lakers surge up the standings and prepare for a top-three finish before a possible title run, the Mavericks will have to fight through the Play-In Tournament and will very likely miss the postseason.
The “kind of cool” comparison Kidd mentioned does not bode well for the Mavericks, and if history repeats itself, Kidd, 52, will be in his 90s before the Mavericks return to the postseason. Let the “Curse of the Wonder Boy” commence.
