Latest news with #DoncicTrade
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Doncic Trade Has 'Shocked' Donnie Trashing Mavs GM Nico for No 'Decent Funeral'
Doncic Trade Has 'Shocked' Donnie Trashing Mavs GM Nico for No 'Decent Funeral' originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Donnie Nelson was the architect of the best Dallas Mavericks rosters in franchise history during his reign as general manager and director of basketball operations from 1998-2021. His resume is bookended by bringing two of the franchise's best players to Dallas: Dirk Nowitzki and Luka Doncic. Advertisement Nelson was with Dallas for the entirety of Nowitzki's career, but his time came to an end early into Doncic's, mutually parting ways with the Mavericks before Nico Harrison was hired as his replacement. Harrison struck the sports world and Mavs fanbase ablaze a couple years into his job when he traded the new franchise icon in Doncic. Even worse than the ridiculousness of the trade and its return was Harrison and the Mavericks' handling of the situation, often referencing Doncic in a demeaning tone and making countless questionable media and press decisions amid the scrutiny. Like many fans, Nelson was not pleased. Not just with The Trade to begin with, but with the manner in which Harrison and the team tried to put out the fire in the aftermath. Nelson didn't hold back his thoughts when discussing the situation with Slovenian news outlet Ekipa 24. He has recently been hired as a special advisor to the Slovenian national team, reuniting with Slovenia's finest Doncic in pursuit of Olympic qualification in 2028. Advertisement The former Mavericks exec couldn't help but compare Doncic's career with that of Nowitzki's, ripping the Mavs for their disrespect to a franchise great. 'We were with Dirk Nowitzki for 21 years, and the last three years were out of pure respect," Nelly said about Nowitzki's twilight before official retirement. "People like that deserve to say goodbye on their own terms and according to their wishes, and everyone deserves a decent funeral, figurative or literal.' Harrison did not give Doncic that treatment whatsoever, breaking the news on a Friday night that had actually been in the works long before Luka willed the Mavericks to the NBA Finals. Nelson poignantly had a one-word response to the trade itself: "shocked". Advertisement And further ... "still shocked". "You have to understand that some players are different, special, and even more important to the environment and the community. It's important to treat those players with respect," Nelson added. Donnie also stated that this situation simply "wouldn't have happened" under his watch. So much of the "loyalty" energy that flowed through Mavericks organization during Dirk's tenure had evaporated in the waning moments of Luka's ... and that emptiness still remains. However, Harrison has had a guardian angel in the form of a ping-pong ball that won Dallas the lottery and awarded the No. 1 overall draft pick with the right to add star phenom Cooper Flagg to the roster. Advertisement Harrison surely has learned from these mistakes, whether he's listened to Nelson and the fans' harsh criticism or not. Nico has stated that Flagg is a generational, "once-in-a-lifetime" player ... but as Nelson might agree... We've already seen how he handled one of those. Related: Mavs' Official Summer League Roster and Schedule Announced Related: Luka Doncic and Donnie Nelson International Reunion Announced This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
Fox News
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
NBA legend Don Nelson wears Luka Doncic shoes to protest 'tremendous mistake' by Mavericks
Don Nelson, the former Dallas Mavericks head coach, accepted the Chuck Daily Lifetime Achievement Award before Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday. Nelson, who has been living in Hawaii since being away from the game, carried a message with him for the franchise he used to lead on the court. During his press conference, Nelson made sure everyone in the building knew that he was wearing Luka Doncic's new shoes from Nike. Why? He thinks the Mavericks and GM Nico Harrison made a "tremendous mistake" trading him to the Los Angeles Lakers. "I want everybody to know I'm wearing Luka's shoes, his new shoes from Nike…and I'm wearing them in protest for the trade from Dallas," Nelson told the crowd. "I think it was a tremendous mistake by the Dallas franchise to trade him. I want everybody to know that." Nelson is a part of a mass group that believes Harrison made the wrong move in trading Doncic to Los Angeles, which was one of the most shocking trades in recent memory anywhere in professional sports. Mavericks fans let Harrison know it, too, as chants filled stadiums home and away, while a group of fans even held a fake funeral outside American Airlines Center days after the deal went down in February. Dallas, though, may have gotten bailed out after the NBA Draft Lottery saw them win the No. 1 overall pick. The Mavericks will presumably take Duke's Cooper Flagg later this month. Still, Mavericks fans weren't happy to see Doncic, who helped lead the team to the NBA Finals last year, moving out west. While the Lakers didn't make a deep NBA Playoffs run, Doncic had similar numbers with the Lakers compared to the Mavericks. He averaged 28.2 points per game (28.1 in Dallas) with 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game over 28 contests. Nelson and many others have their opinions, but what's done is done now for the Mavericks. Time will tell who exactly won the trade. Nelson is a Hall of Famer coach, and one of the best in league history with San Antonio Spurs legend Gregg Popovich being the only one with more coaching wins all-time. He had 1,335 regular-season wins and 75 more in the playoffs during his time coaching the Milwaukee Bucks (1976-87), Golden State Warriors (1988-94), New York Knicks (1995-96), Mavericks (1997-2005), and Warriors once more from 2006-10. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
"Superstars at 25 don't get traded"- Draymond Green recalls getting confused between Doncic trade and Warriors landing Kevin Durant
"Superstars at 25 don't get traded"- Draymond Green recalls getting confused between Doncic trade and Warriors landing Kevin Durant originally appeared on Basketball Network. The Luka Doncic trade will certainly be a topic of discussion for years to come. A decision that shocked the entire NBA ecosystem, with the Dallas Mavericks shipping the Slovenian talent to the Los Angeles Lakers after a great seven-year association. Advertisement Such was the magnitude of the trade that transpired on February 2nd, 2025, and everyone had a story to tell. However, Draymond Green's reaction was certainly a little amusing as the four-time champion narrated his episode on "Jimmy Kimmel Live." Recounting the night of the trade announcement, Draymond revealed he was at a Warriors charity poker tournament. Ten minutes before the news broke out, the 2016 DPOY recalled talking with owner Joe Lacob, who told him about almost having Kevin Durant in the Bay Area. "So we're at this tournament and I go sit down and about 15 minutes later, Steph yells, 'Draymond did you see the trade.' I go, 'It happened?' Steph goes, 'Wait, who?' and I said, 'Oh never mind, Nobody,"' revealed Draymond, who assumed Lacob had pulled off the Durant trade with the Phoenix Suns. Nonetheless, learning about Luka's trade, the defensive savant said the following. Advertisement "I couldn't believe it. Superstars at 25 don't get traded. Luka is a megastar. Just coming off the NBA Finals. You just don't see that in the NBA. I immediately wondered when I had to be next, it's coming for me soon," Dray told host Jimmy. The Warriors star was coming off a second round exit against the Timberwolves but had managed to make the 2025 NBA All-Defensive First Team. Pursuing "The Slim Reaper" Looking back to the 2024-25 trade deadline, the Warriors were keen on reuniting with Durant. During his three-year stint in the Bay Area, the 6'11" forward helped the franchise secure two championship banners, earning Finals MVP honors both times. Hence, GSW's front office was trying to work out the best deal with the Suns. But, before things could be finalized, Durant had categorically disagreed with a homecoming in the Bay. The fifteen-time All-Star was done with his fair share of scrutiny. As the deadline appeared closer, GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. and management found themselves in a lurch. Ultimately, they decided to go ahead with Jimmy Butler's gamble, which turned out to be a beneficial move for the most part. Advertisement Related: Luc Longley on why he and Michael Jordan couldn't get along: "Mike was doing what he did to rookies, what he was doing to me" Blockbuster trade on the cards for the Warriors? With free agency not far away, there has been a lot of chatter around the Dubs making a strong push for a star player. Since winning their 2022 championship, Coach Steve Kerr and his crew have not had the desired success for various reasons. Blessed to have a generational talent in Curry, the management cannot afford to let go of his championship window. Entering his 17th season, the two-time MVP has shown no signs of slowing down. Hence, given his invaluable contributions to the franchise and the city of San Francisco, the front office owes him a shot at his fifth title. Not to forget his legacy, known as the face that changed the game. Advertisement Related: "What is this? Some Brazilian fake news?" - Goran Dragic revealed his initial reaction to the Luka Doncic trade This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
