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It isn't every time that basketball delivers drama. Granted, I have come to see it as one of the more exciting sports out there, but the amount of drama we receive both on and off the court is usually minimal. This week though got all hardcore, casual and even mainstream media talking about basketball for different reasons as we barely had the opportunity to take a break.

Monday the Irving Trade

We started in full swing on Monday with the trade of one of the NBA's most skillful, and most controversial Athletes, Kyrie Irving who was traded from the Brooklyn Nets to the Dallas Mavericks. That trade signified an official end to a tenure which has been quite a hassle for the Nets. From Irving sitting out games after refusing to be vaccinated, to his controversial views on Jew's that almost got him canceled, all the way to multiple injuries that hampered his playing time on the team. The Nets were expected to dominate with a team of Durant, Harden and Irving, but as with the Lakers, the three superstar theory fell short.

Tuesday For King James

Tuesday saw LeBron James become the all time points leader in the NBA, eclipsing Kareem Abdul Jabbers previous long standing record of 38,387 points which stood for 38 years. It further cemented James status as one of the greatest of all time, and highlighted his discipline, commitment and longevity. The aftermath of breaking the record wasn't so pleasant though as the Lakers Lost the game, Russell Westbrook had a spat with the coach, and Anthony Davis was called out for not celebrating James victory. Clearly the Lakers need some major changes done to their franchise. Luckily we were still at Tuesday.

Wednesday - You're Next, Russ

The rumors were already there of Russ on his way out, and the fallout the previous day only gave further validity to them. By Wednesday though, we knew what exactly the Lakers wanted to do and which team Russ was headed next(?), although it is likely the Utah Jazz will seek a buyout from his contract. The Lakers seemed to have got what they wanted with the trade - four solid rotation players in Russell, Vanderbilt, Bamba and Beasley while getting rid of Russ who underperformed during his time there. It marks an interesting new chapter in Westbrook's career, and I hope he can bounce back from his disappointing tenure at the Lakers.

Thursday the Mother of the All

Thursday saw the last Brooklyn Nets Superstar and their most reliable player in Kevin Durant being traded to the Phoenix Suns. This was a surprise particularly with Irving leaving as people didn't expect it to come so soon. The Durant trade has made the Phoenix Suns automatic favorites to win the NBA championship, provided he stays healthy. Their superstar team of Devin Booker, Chris Paul, Deandre Ayton, and now Durant are expected to go all the way. Then again, we all know that when it comes to superstar teams expectations don't always match reality.

Conclusion

As things taper down now and we catch a breath, it is worth realizing that some of the happenings of the week - especially the trades only set us up for even more exciting drama in the near future. You can't but love the NBA.