The Houston Rockets have not won a playoff series since the COVID-19 bubble. So last year, when its in-state rival, the Dallas Mavericks, reached the NBA finals, Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta must have looked at them with envy. Less than a year down the way, and the tables have turned, diagonally opposite.
The Mavs failed to secure even a spot in the playoffs. The Rockets, on the other hand, finished second in the Wild West with a remarkable 52-30 record, and now the valiant squad is eyeing nothing less than a championship. The Mavs’ downfall is stunning, and it only makes Luka Dončić’s trade to the Los Angeles Lakers even more questionable.
Those questions have been raised relentlessly, even though it has been almost three months since the trade happened. The Mavs front office has been slandered and ridiculed like anything. But, if that is coming from your in-state rival, that definitely hurts extra. Fertitta just did that lately, and that too, brutally.
Houston Rockets Owner Made a Revelation About Luka Dončić Trade
At a festive ceremony honoring the University of Houston Cougars for reaching the second Final Four under coach Kelvin Sampson earlier this month, Fertitta, a graduate of the University of Houston and the chairman of the board of regents, took the stage surrounded by smiles, pride, and high spirits.
The event, filled with school spirit and championship energy, took an unexpected turn when Fertitta shared a behind-the-scenes moment involving not only himself but also the President of the United States and the Prime Minister of Italy.
According to Fertitta, during a recent high-level gathering attended by U.S. President Donald Trump and Italy’s Prime Minister, the trio found themselves caught in an NBA debate. The topic? Dončić’s trade to the Los Angeles Lakers.
“I was in the White House in the Oval Office, with the Prime Minister of Italy and the President last Thursday. And we talked about the Houston Cougars, I promise you, for at least a minute and a half. And then we talked about that dumb*** Luka Dončić trade,” Fertitta said.
SHOTS FIRED 😂
At a Houston Cougar season celebration, Rockets owner, Tilman Fertitta spoke on how he recently had a chance to speak to President Trump about his Coogs.
He followed that up with:
“And then we talked about that dumbass Luka Doncic trade Dallas did” pic.twitter.com/RpzV10Q8Fj
— Chancellor Johnson (@ChancellorTV) April 24, 2025
It’s not every day that world leaders and a billionaire businessman analyze NBA trades, but this one was too wild to ignore. The aftermath of the trade? The Lakers thrived, boosted by Dončić’s arrival, finished the regular season 50-32 and secured a playoff spot. They’re currently awaiting Game 3 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, with Dončić proving to be a crucial contributor on the court and a morale boost off it.
Meanwhile, as ironic as it might sound, Dallas’ season wrapped up after their loss to the Memphis Grizzlies (120-106) at the play-in final on April 18, which is exactly 77 days after trading No. #77! Call it poetic justice! That the trade became a topic of conversation among world leaders only underscores its notoriety once again.
Rockets Look To Take Advantage in Game 3
In Game 1 of their first-round series, the Warriors handed the Rockets a harsh 95-85 defeat on Sunday, Apr. 20. That loss, however, didn’t break their spirit—it ignited it. Come Apr. 23, the Rockets roared back with a dominant 109-94 win, leveling the series and reestablishing themselves as a real threat in the Western Conference.
The Golden State Warriors faced a tough blow early in Game 2 when Jimmy Butler III went down in the first quarter with a pelvis contusion. Despite Stephen Curry’s 20-point performance, the team struggled to maintain rhythm and intensity without Butler’s presence on both ends of the floor.
Looking ahead to Game 3, all eyes will be on the Houston Rockets, especially rising star Jalen Green. Green delivered a jaw-dropping performance in Game 2, sinking eight three-pointers and finishing with 38 points.
With Butler potentially out (still not known if he’s out indefinitely) and the Warriors needing to adjust defensively, Green’s offensive firepower could once again tip the scales in Houston’s favor.
READ: Nico Harrison Awkwardly Dodges Pointed Luka Dončić Question as Fans Demand Mavs GM Be Fired
“I feel like I did a good job of answering back. From the beginning, my whole mindset from today was to go in and be aggressive and get back to being myself,” said Green after Game 2.
Other players who stepped up in Game 2 include Dillon Brooks, who chipped in with 16 points, and Alperen Şengün, who contributed a solid 17 points in the paint. These two have been consistent contributors and will provide crucial support to the Rockets’ roster in Game 3 on Apr. 26.