LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 06: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers stands during the national anthem prior to the first half of an NBA game against the Los Angeles Clippers on April 6, 2016 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)> at Staples Center on April 6, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

It’s hard to remember but there was a time in 2007 when Kobe Bryant wanted to leave the Los Angeles Lakers and be traded somewhere else. Bryant wasn’t pleased with the direction the team was going and wanted out of LA. One of the places he almost landed was with the Dallas Mavericks, according to owner Mark Cuban.

Cuban said in a recent interview with Bleacher Report that he thought the deal for Kobe was done.

“I was going back and forth with Dr. Buss, and I forgot who called who, I think he called me, actually, and said, ‘Look, we think we might be parting ways with Kobe,’” Cuban said in an interview with Taylor Rooks in the B/R App.

The only reason the deal fell through, according to Cuban, is that Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak talked Kobe into staying.

By 2009 and 2010, the Lakers won back-to-back NBA Championships, so clearly he made the right choice in staying. But still Cuban couldn’t help but wonder how good his Mavericks team would have been with Kobe and Dirk Nowitzki who was a bit worried at the time that Cuban might get rid of him.

“It would’ve been damn good,” Cuban said of the potential Dallas team had Bryant joined. “Dirk was like, ‘I would’ve traded me for Kobe,’ and I’m like, ’No, I’m not gonna trade you, Dirk, that’s the whole point.”

The Mavericks didn’t do too badly, they won the NBA Title the following year in 2011 against LeBron James and the Miami Heat.

[Bleacher Report]

About Stacey Mickles

Stacey is a 1995 graduate of the University of Alabama who has previously worked for other publications such as Sportskeeda and Saturday Down South.