Brooklyn Nets forward Ziaire Williams revealed that he lost a bet with his teammates over the authenticity of the Luka Doncic trade to the Los Angeles Lakers. Williams, who was convinced the trade was a hoax, ended up owing about $300.
Williams shared his disbelief during a post-practice interview, saying,
“I lost a bet with a couple of guys. I owe about $300… Shoot, Luka, I thought they were already building his statue [in Dallas]. Hey man, that’s the NBA for you. Nobody’s safe.”
Ziaire Williams said he lost a bet with his Nets teammates that the Luka trade was fake:
“I lost a bet with a couple of guys. I owe about $300… Shoot, Luka, I thought they were already building his statue [in Dallas]. Hey man, that’s the NBA for you. Nobody’s safe.” pic.twitter.com/6exPeBU16F
— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) February 3, 2025
The Nets were on a team flight when news of the trade broke, and many players initially thought it was a prank.
Williams wasn’t alone in his skepticism. Day’Ron Sharpe, another Nets player, mentioned that a large portion of the team believed the trade was fake at first.
“We thought Shams got hacked or it was a fake account or something,” Sharpe said.
The trade has sparked significant reactions across the NBA, especially among Mavericks fans who were outraged by the decision to trade Doncic for Anthony Davis and a first-round pick. Some fans even held a symbolic funeral for Doncic outside the American Airlines Center.
Williams’s story highlights the shock and disbelief that many in the NBA felt over the trade. It also underscores the unpredictable nature of the league, where even the most unexpected moves can become reality.
