Insider: Luka Got "Stabbed in the Back" By Mavericks

ESPN's Tim MacMahon has written a book entitled “The Wonder Boy: Luka Doncic and the Quest For Greatness," about the Dallas Mavericks attempts to keep their superstar happy. Of course, it all took a wild and crazy turn back in February when the Mavs shockingly traded Luka in a stunning blockbuster to the LA Lakers.

Now MacMahon, who had unprecedented access behind the scenes, explained on the ClutchPoints' Sitting Courtside podcast how the Mavericks went from catering to Doncic's every need, to "stabbing him in the back."

Basically what happened here was Luka got his butt kissed by the organization for six years. And I think you could argue, rightfully so from a strategy perspective. He's that level of superstar. After getting his butt kissed for six years, he got stabbed in his back midway through his seventh season.

The trade took everyone, including Luka, and every other player and team in the NBA by surprise (except for the Lakers front office), and the way they pulled it off so out of the blue is what leads MacMahon to that harsh "backstabbing" charge.

"It's just simple fact of the matter. That's what happened. He got traded in the middle of the night, intentionally blindsided, intentionally shocked by it because they felt like we can't let this leak. We can't let Luka have any idea this is coming. We can't let his agent, Bill Duffy, have any idea this is coming.”

He also said the Mavs' determination that they couldn't bear to give Doncic the $345 million supermax contract this coming summer is something that still has everyone around the NBA shaking their heads.

"I’ve had a difficult time finding anybody around the NBA who would agree with that assessment."

MacMahon also indicated that former Mavs majority owner Mark Cuban's puzzling and sudden move to divest himself of almost all of his shares was also to blame for the trade.

"A pivotal moment was Cuban selling majority share of the franchise and as a result having zero say," added MacMahon.

And so, here we are. The Mavs, who were worried about Luka's ability to stay healthy down the road, have Anthony Davis, who got injured in his very first game with the team, then missed 18 games before returning recently.

Dallas is currently clinging to the last Play-In spot in the Western Conference over the Phoenix Suns by one game in the loss column, with just three games to play (the Suns have five left).

The Lakers are in 3rd spot in the conference, but only two games up on the Play-In.