The Luka Dončić trade shocked the basketball world so deeply that fans initially believed NBA insider Shams Charania’s X account had been hacked. Even players on both the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers were blindsided by the blockbuster move.
Nico Harrison, the Mavericks’ general manager, and Patrick Dumont, one of the franchise’s controlling owners, made the stunning decision to send Dončić to Los Angeles — just one season after the Slovenian star helped lead Dallas to the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics.
The move sparked immediate backlash from fans and former players alike. Protests erupted in Dallas, and franchise legend Dirk Nowitzki was reportedly furious. Another prominent figure voicing frustration was Don Nelson, the former Mavericks head coach.
Don Nelson Slams Mavericks, Protests Luka Dončić Trade
Don Nelson, who was recently named the 2025 Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, made his feelings clear. The Hall of Fame coach — whose career spanned 31 years with the Mavericks, Warriors, Bucks, and Knicks — called out the Mavericks front office in an interview with insider Marc Stein.
In a blunt admission to Stein, Nelson said he plans to protest the trade in his own way.
“Luka is my dear friend. And to protest his being traded from the Mavericks to L.A., I’m going to wear a pair of his new shoes. I wanted to mention that,” Nelson said.
Nelson showed up to the NBA Finals in Oklahoma City wearing the Jordan Luka 4 “Gone Fishing” — a nod to his iconic fish-themed ties from his coaching days.
Don Nelson is already at the Finals in OKC doing interviews about his Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award from the @NBA_Coaches.
Here he is wearing Luka 4s in the Gone Fishing colorway in a nod to the fish ties he wore as a coach.
And here’s our chat: https://t.co/LW6Y68XiBy https://t.co/CV1MMB03nW pic.twitter.com/XGkQn0fn51— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 8, 2025
Though he will be honored during Game 2 of the Finals between the Pacers and Thunder, Nelson made it clear his heart remains in Dallas — and that he strongly disapproves of the direction the Mavericks are taking.
“My philosophy was always, when you’ve got a great player, he’s yours for a lifetime. You don’t get rid of great players,” Nelson said. “When that happened, I was pretty disappointed.”
Dončić Shocked by Trade, Now Teaming With LeBron in L.A.
Nelson’s stance reflects what many fans feel — especially given Dončić’s recent success. The All-NBA guard was reportedly not informed of the trade before it was finalized, adding fuel to the controversy.
Now with the Lakers, Dončić is forming a promising new trio alongside LeBron James and Austin Reaves. Under head coach JJ Redick, Los Angeles is gearing up for another run at a title — this time with one of the league’s most gifted guards in tow.
Whether the Mavericks made a franchise-defining mistake remains to be seen. For Nelson, it’s already crystal clear.
