Luka Dončić’s father has expressed anger at the Dallas Mavericks after the shocking trade that sent his son to the Los Angeles Lakers. The NBA world was stunned when the trade was announced, which saw the 25-year-old Dončić head to the Lakers, while Anthony Davis moved to Dallas.
Reports say the trade came with secrecy, leaving Dončić, Davis, and even Lakers superstar LeBron James unaware of the deal until it was publicly revealed. It’s been reported that the Mavericks were unhappy with Dončić’s commitment to his conditioning and fitness.
Dallas GM Nico Harrison has mentioned that Dončić’s upcoming contract talks, along with Davis’s better defense, were factors in the trade.
In an interview with Arena Sport 1 from Slovenia, Dončić’s father, Saša, shared his frustration with how the Mavericks handled the situation.
“I understand when you disagree with a certain philosophy,” Saša Dončić said. “But the secrecy, or even hypocrisy from some people, hurts me. Luka absolutely doesn’t deserve this.”
Luka Dončić has played his entire career with the Mavericks, leading the team to the NBA finals last season. He has five All-NBA First Team selections and is widely regarded as one of the best players in the league.
Saša Dončić responded to reports, believed to come from within the Mavericks, about his son’s fitness.
“Luka’s conditioning wasn’t even a problem last year,” he said. “He played almost 100 games, 40 minutes per game, with two or three defenders on him the whole time. To say these things about him is very unfair. If you traded him, stand by it. Don’t look for excuses.”
Luka Dončić himself gave a more measured response to the trade, though he didn’t directly mention the Mavericks. He thanked Dallas for making him feel at home and for supporting him through both the good times and the bad.
“For a young kid from Slovenia coming to the US for the first time, you made North Texas feel like home,” Dončić wrote in a message to the city. “Thank you for sharing my joy in our best moments and lifting me up when I needed it most.”
Dončić thanked the Mavericks’ fans in a separate message, saying Dallas would always feel like a second home to him. He also expressed excitement about joining the Lakers.
“Grateful for this amazing opportunity,” Dončić said. “Basketball means everything to me, and no matter where I play, I’ll do so with the same passion and goal – to win championships.”
