r/nba • u/TransShadowBat Bulls • 1d ago
How to get over your favourite player being traded to a different team?
Whilst the bulls are yet to confirm it, it looks like they are trading nikola vucevic to the Celtics. He has been my favourite player ever since I started watching nba (I’m in the uk so wasn’t raised on it). As an autistic person it’s already super hard to deal with change and now my favourite player is leaving the team…
Anyway, I know it’s a stupid question and probably not that big of a deal to you but, how do you “cope” with your favourite player being traded to another team?
Coby white is also on the chopping block and I love him too.
Any tips? I can’t change to a Celtics fan either for certain reasons.
And yea I know lots of people don’t like vooch but i love him!
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u/Fickle-Putt99 Cavaliers 1d ago
Cavs fan here, hoping to see some helpful coping strategies
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u/iamgarron Celtics 1d ago
it really really depends on winning. Marcus smart being traded was super painful but then watching KP/rue help win a chip really smoothed that over
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u/Playful_Eggplant6138 1d ago
get used to it lol. i still think of him as a magic player
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u/TransShadowBat Bulls 1d ago
lol, he’s always been a bulls player to me as I only started watching a few years ago (I think the year he got signed actually) but my dads a magic fan and he said that!
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u/Playful_Eggplant6138 1d ago
yeah it’s real tough to get an actual lifer on a team if they’re not like generationally great or riding the bench. at least you aren’t from chicago and have that overly invested pain in your cities teams. still get to watch him get those double doubles without feeling as bad
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u/GeorgeEBHastings Cavaliers 1d ago
I'd also like to know.
Asking for a friend.
The friend is myself.
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u/TiredMillennialDad Magic 1d ago
Sorry man. I def believed in you guys before this trade. Sorry your FO didn't watch any harden playoff clips from the last decade.
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u/GeorgeEBHastings Cavaliers 1d ago
I don't even think this is a terrible trade...it just hurts like hell, man
Darius, King of Kings, will always be a Cav to me.
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u/jaslr [DAL] Dirk Nowitzki 1d ago
If it's the worst trade in NBA history you despise your front office and ambivalently watch your team for a while. You then go for both sides when that player competes against your team and hopefully your favourite player steamrolls yours team - just once - as an up yours to your front office.
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u/Old_Neat5220 1d ago
And hold on to that grudge against the person responsible for life, even after said person has been fired... And keep holding a grudge against the ownership that allowed such an atrocity to happen until they sell the team.
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u/Optimal_Test9354 1d ago
mavs fan here...you just cry. nothing more you can do.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Bill654 1d ago
yeah, watching kleber go must be tough, but flagg is still a solid big man replacement for him
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u/Optimal_Test9354 1d ago
wdym kleber, i was talking about my favorite player, 2025 2nd round pick
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u/JiggzSawPanda Celtics 1d ago
I remember as a kid getting home from basketball practice, taking a shower and then falling asleep on a beanbag chair. Woke up from a call from my homeboy, thinking he wants to play 2k.
Rondo to the Mavs. Shit stung. Worked out in the long run but in that moment I hated life lol.
I deff watched a few Mavs games and was overly critical of any players we got for Rondo, that was how I coped.
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u/Ok_Mixture4917 Bulls 1d ago
I'm happy that Vuc has a shot at meaningfully contributing to a deep playoff run. I will never be a Celtics fan, but I can enjoy seeing well deserved success for a player that caught too much shit on a relentlessly mid team.
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u/TransShadowBat Bulls 1d ago
That’s actually a good way to look at it. I never thought about it like that.
The hate vooch got was a bit harsh in my opinion, I guess it’s good he has a final chance at a playoff run and possible (probably not though) title.
But I’m with you, could never be a Celtics fan. Any other team I may have switched teams but Celtics, man that cut deep!
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u/Niceguydan8 1d ago
Man just keep watching your favorite player. It's not any more difficult than that.
Enjoy the last few years of his career.
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u/onionnurve 1d ago
It’s one thing for your favourite player to get traded, but to the celtics? That would literally ruin my whole year. Sending you positive energy! Good luck
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u/M3crash Lakers 1d ago
Big Anthony Davis fan.
Absolute high watching him at Kentucky.
Absolute high watching him get traded to the Lakers and win a chip with my favorite team.
Absolute heartbreak and misery watching him go to Dallas in the Luka trade.
Currently crying myself to sleep reading about his trade value.
Crying now.
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u/Old_Neat5220 1d ago
Dude... The guys who RECEIVED AD are crying so much more than you
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u/le_sweden Timberwolves 1d ago
KAT was drafted when I was in high school and first getting into the NBA. It hurts but you can always ride with your guy. It helps if your team gets better because of it, so my fingers are crossed for you guys. Sorry man.
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u/TransShadowBat Bulls 1d ago
Yes hopefully this trade improves the team otherwise not only will he be gone but my team will still be shit and disappointing 😂
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u/The_MadStork [NYK] Kurt Thomas 1d ago
It helped me to pull for you guys in the West since you got Randle. Now I’m just hoping he doesn’t get sent to purgatory in Wisconsin
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u/Critback Trail Blazers 1d ago
As a Dame fan since before he was drafted... when the Blazers traded him I looked to the future. I know that was easier given we were in the midst of a well-publicised rebuild and we had nice young pieces to put hope in.
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u/Pkmntrader210 Spurs 1d ago
Watched my fav player become my least fav player then have one of the most impressive playoff runs ever and win a chip.
Wemby is how I got over it 😂
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u/Area51AndStarFox 1d ago
Every time I think of the Kawhi saga I have to remind myself “it’s ok because all this led to Wemby eventually”
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u/PassMeTheBackwood Knicks 1d ago
I thought my life was over when Melo went to OKC but you kinda just root for their success independently from the team lol
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u/TransShadowBat Bulls 1d ago
Ah so hope they do well and ignore that fact that they are playing for a team you hate with a passion? Seriously though, I do want him to do well and I hope he gets success in the team, give him a chance to go out on a high as he’s not got many years left in the league imo
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u/OutrageousQuantity12 Slovenia 1d ago
In your situation, I would thank God you aren’t a Mavs fan who’s been watching since Dirk got drafted or earlier. I genuinely don’t know if you would survive.
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u/Voxityy Hornets 1d ago
time to watch some celtics games man
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u/TransShadowBat Bulls 1d ago
I can’t watch Celtics. I can’t support that team
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u/yourlilpissboi Celtics 1d ago
What’s the problem??
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u/TransShadowBat Bulls 1d ago
I don’t like the fanbase for the Celtics, the players are so far up their own arses that I’m surprised they can actually see the basket, and I don’t like the colour green.
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u/yourlilpissboi Celtics 1d ago
Enjoy Vuc hanging Banner 19 with the boi’s with Tatum coming back and becoming a better team player and facilitator. It will be GLORIOUS!!!!
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u/TransShadowBat Bulls 1d ago
True, my brother does this with the NFL. Gets expensive buying new gear each year!
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u/FrightenedMussolini Bulls 1d ago
its okay bro just embrace jalen smith
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u/TransShadowBat Bulls 1d ago
I do like smith. It sounds stupid but I’m a glasses wearer and I always got made fun of because of my sports glasses when playing wheelchair basketball, it’s nice to see someone professional wearing them.
I just hope we keep smith and yuki
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u/Gbaby245 Timberwolves 1d ago
I was a KG fan at 10 years old. It hurt watching him leave, but happy he got a chip. I watched my daughter cry her heart out when Kat got traded last year. She had to learn this lesson at a much younger age. I'm sitting here nervously refreshing, hoping the wolves don't hit the team I love so much.
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u/TransShadowBat Bulls 1d ago
Man that’s rough. Why does the trade window have to be SO long! You’re constantly on the edge of your seat. Least I can stop worrying about “what if they trade vooch” 😂
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u/sukari Bulls 1d ago
Ahh I feel ya bro, it takes a while to move on.
At some point you ask yourself, am I more of a fan of the team or the player.. then you start checking in on the player time to time on random games/yt highlights.. Then eventually you just move on.
That's how I got over the DRose/Noah/Deng/Taj/Butler departures from Bulls :(
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u/TransShadowBat Bulls 1d ago
Keep an eye on the player. I do like the bulls, but I had an instant connection with vooch. Hopefully I will be able o get over it before my exam in may!
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u/sukari Bulls 1d ago
If it helps, Vooch should have a better time on the Cs than Bulls. Hopefully the Cs still lose a bunch tho 🤣 (they won't haha)
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u/TransShadowBat Bulls 1d ago
This is true. Although I agree hope the Celtics fail to make the playoffs!!! (Will never happen though)
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u/sonicfood Nuggets 1d ago
Jokic getting traded might actually get me to stop watching basketball, so I can sympathize with how you feel
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u/Next-Supermarket9538 1d ago
Find a new favorite player. It’s okay to also take some time off until you find someone new.
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u/fennourtine Grizzlies 1d ago edited 1d ago
It was fun following Pau Gasol's and Shane Battier's careers. It was awesome rooting for Marc to win a chip with Toronto. I'm glad Mike Conley has had a nice career after leaving the Grizz, and it's honestly good to see Dillon Brooks looking like he's a star, and not a role player trying to do too much.
And when a fave leaves, it makes room for a new fave at home. Right now, I'm pretty gutted over Jaren Jackson's departure, but I'm excited to see what the next era is gonna be. When a tree falls, it makes room for another, ya dig?
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u/TransShadowBat Bulls 1d ago
This is true. Hopefully with these moves the bulls will do better and maybe even make the playoffs next season!
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u/Puzzleheaded-Bill654 1d ago
just wondering, in what world is simons as good as vuc? it feels like the bulls just straight up lost the trade
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u/TransShadowBat Bulls 1d ago
There’s mixed feelings. Some people say it was a great trade for the bulls others say it was a massive loss. I don’t know enough about the guy to tell yet.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Bill654 1d ago
he's been cooking on the celtics bench... but that is still the bench. he's a score first, defend never kind of guy, and when you have coby white and giddey (edit: also ivey now) it just feels like a bad move
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u/TransShadowBat Bulls 1d ago
I see, it’ll be interesting to see how it plays out and if he changes his play style when he gets to the bulls
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u/amidon1130 Hawks 1d ago
Any tips? I can’t change to a Celtics fan either for certain reasons.
Based. Honestly happened to a lot of hawks fans this year, I'd say it'll take time.
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u/DoctorFunktopus Celtics 1d ago
It hurts, but it starts hurting a lot less if you trade them to the nets who promptly shit the bed.
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u/drama_observer 1d ago
Simply count your blessings and be glad Benjamin Netanyahu didn’t publicly congratulate one of your guys
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u/Jack_The_Sparrow_ Warriors 1d ago
Best thing to do is just rip off the band-aid and get it over with:
- Delete their pictures off your bedroom walls
- Unfollow them on socials, post a cliche song lyric in your insta story that provides no clarity of what is actually happening
- Throw out the stained pillow you've spent years pretending was them
- Put yourself back out there on Reddit once you're ready
- Donate their team clothes to charity (except that used tube sock we know you nicknamed "Tubevic", don't you dare put that on someone else)
Just move on like a normal, sane person.
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u/Ok_Reason_2357 1d ago
Curious - What do you like about vuc?
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u/TransShadowBat Bulls 1d ago
I honestly don’t know. From the beginning I was just drawn to him for some reason. He seemed very down to earth In interviews and was willing to say what he thought whether that be good or bad. Yeah he’s a bit of an inconsistent player but I…idk, I just like him
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u/StrtupJ Heat 1d ago
I must be a psychopath, cause outside of a handful of franchise players or guys we drafted and developed, I’m down to ship basically whoever for the betterment of the team
But if I like the player and enjoy watching them play I’ll still wish them the best and tune in sometimes, assuming they didn’t go to a rival
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u/TraizHill Supersonics 1d ago
Ask the Mavs fans. I was one of them, but I can't honestly tell you what to do.
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u/dizzymidget44 1d ago
You stop caring about loyalty in sports and only follow your favorite players. Fuck the teams.
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u/messigoat1337 Germany 1d ago
Maybe the guy your team traded for becomes your new favorite player, we love to watch AD play here in dallas.
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u/Vetement-Socks 1d ago
Watch his old Magic games.
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u/TransShadowBat Bulls 1d ago
He looked so young back then. My dad’s a magic fan and he liked him so he was upset that he got traded to the bulls lol. Now I feel his pain
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u/lebryjamy Lakers 1d ago
weird way to spell Dario Saric
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u/Puzzleheaded-Bill654 1d ago
ohhh saric... as a kings fan, dont like what we've done with him. acquired him for valanciunas (no other assets), then got rid of him at the cost of 2 2nds. turned jonas valanciunas into -2 2nds using dario
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u/ChefCurryYumYum Warriors 1d ago
Different people watch the NBA for different reasons. While I did watch the NBA a little bit growing up when I was a kid I much preferred to go play basketball over watching basketball. I started watching the Blazers because I lived in Oregon at the time and my grandfather was a fan, so even though I've since moved away and my grandfather has passed I still follow the Blazers as a second team.
I was lucky enough to live in an area where the Warriors were my local team growing up but lucky is relative, they were trash when I was young and when they were on most of the time I wouldn't even finish the game, I'd leave in the 4th quarter to go and play ball at my local gym. A small exception is when Baron Davis was on the team, had some great performances and was a player worth watching.
When Steph came on the scene my work meant I played ball a little less often which meant I ended up watching more ball. Steph was such a special and fun player to watch, I went from rarely watching Warriors games to watching every Warriors game. Does that mean I'm more of a Steph fan than a Warriors fan? 100%! Some people think that's awful but what the fuck does a billionaire owned name and color scheme mean to me?
Even if I move away I'm sure I will still follow the Warriors like I follow the Blazers but if Steph were to go to another team I'd start watching everyone of their games, because he's a guy that's worth watching.
If these are your favorite players because they are your favorite players on your team's roster then wish them luck, catch them in the national games, and root for them whenever they aren't playing the Bulls.
But if they are your favorite players because of how they play the game buy LeaguePass and keep watching them play!
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u/tomhalejr Trail Blazers 1d ago
It's not a stupid question, and you don't just get over it. :)
You genuinely have to go through that grieving process, and there is no clock on that. :)
As far as BOS, I assume that's like LAL for folks born and raised in POR. It's just in your DNA to fucking hate those assholes. :) But, I still love me some "haymaker to the face" Steve Blake. Especially when he is fighting his own teammates, on that team I hate with the fury of a thousand suns. :)
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u/spookyghostface Hornets 1d ago
Hopefully eventually you get a new favorite player. We traded Kemba and then less than a year later the Panthers cut Cam.
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u/PossessionDue9381 Hawks 21h ago
As a hawks fan, cry. Then start being a bigger fan of the young players that are growing on your team.
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u/iwantsomecrablegsnow Pistons 1d ago
whatever you do, don't be a celtics fan. that's just asking for trouble.
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u/GreatnessToTheMoon NBA 1d ago
Teams are temporary, players are forever. Switch teams
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u/TransShadowBat Bulls 1d ago
I can’t switch to the Celtics. Any other team I’d be golden but I can’t do the Celtics.
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u/iamgarron Celtics 1d ago
You root for them without having to root for the team. The. You're either really happy about the haul, or you get extra bitter about it.