Inside The Heat

Miami Heat Legend Says Luka Doncic Trade Was To Benefit NBA Financially

NBA Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade knows this trade will help the NBA as they march into a new era.
Justice Sandle|
Nov 19, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Utah Jazz minority owner Dwyane Wade with majority owner Ryan Smith (left) watch game action against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Nov 19, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Utah Jazz minority owner Dwyane Wade with majority owner Ryan Smith (left) watch game action against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

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NBA Hall of Famer and Miami Heat icon Dwyane Wade has always had a keen eye on the business side of the NBA.

He believes the blockbuster trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers was in the league's best interest, now with a multi-billion dollar television deal on the horizon.

“This is amazing from the standpoint of the business of the game, Wade said on the Trading Places podcast. "Luka was number six in jersey sales in Dallas, Luka now shoots to number 1 in jersey sales with the Lakers. Now the international market, think about it; we just signed a new TV deal, what $25 billion, let's just throw it out there, $25 billion TV deal."

Wade was only $50 billion short of the actual number of the new 11-year deal that kicks in next year. He notes the international factor of this move. Doncic is a sports icon overseas. Old and new eyes will return to basketball in the next few years and thanks to this move, the Lakers' new superstar will be best for business.

“You got the top international player in LA, so the viewership, the ticket sales, everybody, Europe, Spain, they’re all coming into LA," Wade said. "So I’m looking at the business.“I’m like, this was an amazing business decision by billionaires to say this is what I want for now, and this is what we need as a league."

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Justice Sandle is a graduate of Mississippi State University and a contributor to Miami Heat on SI. He can be reached at justice.sandle111@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter@Justice_News5.

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Justice Sandle
JUSTICE SANDLE

Justice Sandle has a degree in Communications from Mississippi State University. During that time, he covered basketball, football, baseball and soccer. He has since spent time covering the Miami Hurricanes.

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