In this clip from his conversation with Shannon Sharpe on Club Shay Shay, Mark Cuban discusses Luka Dončić’s potential and compares him to Dirk Nowitzki. Cuban emphasizes that while Luka is already historically great, he could be even better with focused training and preparation, much like how Dirk evolved after losing the 2006 NBA Finals. Cuban notes Dirk’s disciplined transformation, which included cutting out alcohol and unhealthy foods, and he believes Luka has similar potential if he adopts a more rigorous approach.
The discussion also touches on Grant Williams’ trash-talking incident with Luka during practice. Cuban describes how Williams, trying to establish himself as an enforcer and adult figure on the Mavericks, learned quickly that Luka doesn’t take kindly to being trash-talked.
Additionally, Cuban comments on the evolution of the NBA, highlighting how today’s players like Luka handle the ball in ways that weren’t typical in Dirk’s era. He explains how players today have adapted skills earlier thanks to social media and drills, suggesting Dirk could have been like Kevin Durant had he played in today’s league.
Cuban also predicts the future of NBA contracts, speculating that the biggest stars will soon be signing billion-dollar deals, driven by rising TV contracts and the league’s growing popularity. He anticipates that players like Luka will eventually make more money annually than some team owners, reflecting the unique star power of NBA athletes compared to other sports leagues.
