When the Dallas Mavericks made the shocking decision to trade Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers this summer, the move sent ripples throughout the NBA and left the Mavericks’ locker room reeling. God Shammgod, a respected member of the Mavericks’ staff who worked under both Rick Carlisle and Jason Kidd, was no exception. Known for his legendary crossover move, which now carries his name, Shammgod had been a trusted voice in Dallas, particularly with Dončić.
But as the news broke that Dončić was on his way to the Lakers, Shammgod knew his time in Dallas was coming to an end. He’s since joined Jamahl Mosley’s coaching staff in Orlando, where the Magic are focused on developing young stars like Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.
A Shocking Trade That Left the Dallas Mavericks Reeling
The trade that sent Dončić packing stunned the NBA world. Executed in the middle of the night, the Mavericks sent their 26-year-old superstar — fresh off a Finals run — to Los Angeles in exchange for Anthony Davis. What made the move even harder to process was Dončić’s public commitment to Dallas, which made the trade feel like a betrayal.
In the aftermath, reports began to surface, painting Dončić in a negative light. His conditioning and maturity became points of focus, sparking a wave of criticism that many saw as an attempt by the Mavericks to defend their decision. Critics argued that the Mavericks had blown up their championship window with Dončić, opting for Davis, whose durability and leadership had been questioned.
The trade quickly became one of the most talked-about and controversial moves in recent NBA history, drawing comparisons to some of the league’s biggest regrets.
Nico Harrison’s ‘Countdown Mentality’ Adds to the Tension
In the wake of the trade, Mavericks’ General Manager Nico Harrison spoke about his vision for the team’s future, one that emphasized a short-term outlook rather than long-term stability. “The future to me is 3-4 years from now,” Harrison said in his first press conference after the trade. “The future 10 years from now, they’ll probably bury me and [Jason Kidd] by then. Or we’ll bury ourselves.”
This mentality of focusing on the next few years, rather than the distant future, created an air of uncertainty within the organization. For Shammgod, who had always prided himself on building relationships and fostering trust, the trade signaled a deeper issue. It was a wake-up call: if the Mavericks could move on from a generational talent like Dončić, then no one was safe. The “spooky times” he referred to were a sign of the instability that now loomed over the franchise.
Shammgod’s Departure and Luka Dončić New Beginning in LA
With his chapter in Dallas officially closed, Shammgod found a new home in Orlando, where the Magic are committed to developing their young stars. The familiarity of working with Mosley and a new focus on youth development offered a fresh start for Shammgod after years with the Mavericks.
Meanwhile, Dončić has quickly found his footing in Los Angeles, thriving alongside LeBron James and positioning himself as the Lakers’ next franchise player. It’s a new chapter for Dončić, one that’s already paying off as he begins to shape the future of the Lakers.
For Dallas, however, the shadow of the Dončić trade looms large. The decision to move on from their star player has reshaped the franchise in an instant, and it’s unclear what the long-term effects will be. As Shammgod so aptly put it, Dallas is now living in “spooky times,” with no guarantees about the future of a team that once seemed to have it all.
