Don Nelson made headlines for a different reason: his blunt condemnation of the Dallas Mavericks’ most controversial move in recent memory—the trade of Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Speaking ahead of receiving the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award during Game 2 of the 2025 NBA Finals, the former Mavericks head coach and general manager made it clear he hasn’t forgiven his old team.
Los Angeles Lakers-Dallas Mavericks Trade Has Don Nelson Very Mad And Red Aurbach Spinning In His Grave
Though Nelson never coached Dončić, his son Donnie played a pivotal role in bringing the Slovenian star to Dallas on draft night. Luka quickly became the franchise’s centerpiece, leading the Mavericks to deep playoff runs and solidifying his place among the league’s elite. For Nelson, it brought to mind the words of his own mentor, Red Auerbach.
“When you have a great player—Bill Russell, John Havlicek, Sam Jones—you keep him,” Nelson said. “You retire his number. You honor that player. That’s been my philosophy.”
Nelson knows the value of franchise loyalty firsthand. He and Donnie famously kept Dirk Nowitzki under wraps before the 1998 Draft, orchestrating the trade that brought the German legend to Dallas, where he spent his entire career and delivered the team’s lone NBA title in 2011.
That legacy, in Nelson’s eyes, has been broken. Today’s Mavericks are run by a different regime: GM Nico Harrison, formerly of Nike, and Patrick Dumont, son-in-law to new owner Sheldon Adelson. Citing concerns over Dončić’s conditioning and long-term durability, they made the stunning call to send him to the Lakers in exchange for the injury-prone but supremely talented Anthony Davis.
Nelson Wears New Nikes In Protest of Luka Trade
Clad in Luka’s newly released Nike signature sneakers, Nelson turned his footwear into a statement.
“I’m wearing them in protest,” Nelson said. “It was a tremendous mistake by the Dallas franchise to trade him, and I want everybody to know that.”
Fans were floored. So were basketball legends. The news of Luka’s departure sparked disbelief and outrage, a reaction that continues to echo months later.
Yet amid fresh optimism from winning the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery, the shadow of the Luka trade lingers in Dallas. For some, the move remains unforgivable. And for Don Nelson, that protest won’t just be verbal—it’ll be on his feet.