Shammgod Wells, famously known by his nickname, God Shammgod, rose to prominence for his iconic crossover dribble, which players worldwide have used to break their opponents’ ankles.
Beyond his handles, Shammgod made a name for himself as part of the coaching staffs of a few NBA teams, namely the Dallas Mavericks and now the Orlando Magic.
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Talking on the “Come And Talk 2 Me” podcast, Shammgod broke his silence about his decision to leave the Mavericks for Magic.
“The thing about Dallas was, it was just getting spooky times, man,” Shammgod said.
Dallas is on a “countdown”
Shammgod served as a development coach for the Mavericks from 2019 until 2025. He primarily worked on developing the players’ handles. He has worked under Rick Carlisle and Jason Kidd.
Then, in February, Dallas’ fortunes changed when it traded Doncic to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis as part of a three-team deal. This move rocked the NBA world, and Shammgod acted accordingly.
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With Dallas losing its franchise cornerstone, Shammgod believed that it was time to make a change for himself. In July, he left the organization and joined the Magic as an assistant coach to Jamahl Mosley. He added that he did not like how Nico Harrison and the whole front office handled Luka’s trade.
“Where we come from, if you handle things the wrong way on the way out, things can get ugly. Things can get dark,” he continued. “The people that survive are the people that handle things accordingly. We might not agree, but if you handle things accordingly, we can always come back and be friends.”
The coach said the trade started a “countdown” for the organization.
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“When the thing [Doncic trade] went down, it was one of those things, if someone treats your man like that, it’s a countdown,” he added.
Dallas could’ve handled the Luka trade better
When Doncic was traded, a new era began both for Dallas and Los Angeles. It stunned the whole basketball world, as Doncic and a few superstars were supposed to be untouchable during trades. But surprisingly, he was shipped away.
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Harrison explained that Dallas needed defense, something Davis – a three-time All-NBA Defensive Team member — could provide. And it was something Doncic, who has been criticized for being out of shape and slow on defense, lacked during his seven-year stay with Dallas.
Doncic is a superstar at 26 years old. During the previous season, he averaged 28.2 points and 7.7 assists for the Lakers. Shammgod knows his greatness all too well, likening him to all-time NBA greats.
“When the game was the biggest and the brightest, [Luka Doncic] was never a passenger,” he said. “He was always a driver. For me, it’s Jordan, Kobe, Luka when it comes to the ‘it’ factor.”
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At Orlando, Shammgod will coach a new set of stars, including Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. He will surely miss working out with Doncic. But like how the superstar handled his transition to L.A., the coach looks forward to a new chapter with the Magic and makes the most out of this opportunity.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 16, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.