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[Saba Sports News] “I think it was a tremendous mistake for the Dallas franchise to trade him — and I want everybody to know that,” said Don Nelson, making his stance crystal clear.
Nelson, who coached the Mavericks from 1997 to 2005 and remains a beloved figure among fans, is just the latest voice with deep ties to the franchise to criticize the team’s decision to deal Luka Doncic. Even Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki has struggled to defend the move.
A known supporter of Doncic, Nelson expressed his frustration at seeing the superstar leave Dallas. He added a personal touch to his comments by revealing he was wearing Doncic’s signature Luka 4 sneakers at the time.
The remarks came as Nelson was honored with the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Basketball Coaches Association. When asked about the controversial trade that sent Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, he didn’t hold back, calling it a major misstep by the organization.
As the Mavericks look ahead to a new era and prepare to welcome a new franchise cornerstone in the upcoming draft, they may be hoping that fans—and former legends—can eventually get behind the team’s vision. But for now, Nelson made it clear: letting go of Luka was, in his eyes, a huge mistake.