Mavericks Ownership Finally Breaks Silence on Blockbuster Luka Doncic Trade
February 9, 2025
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It’s been just over a week since the Dallas Mavericks decided to trade away star point guard Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. Over that time period, Dallas fans haven’t taken to the trade well.
More news: Lakers’ Blockbuster Trade for Mark Williams Rescinded in Shocking Twist
They have held protests, symbolic funerals, and even flashed signs calling for the ownership to sell the team. It has been a tough week for the fanbase and rightfully so since Doncic was the franchise icon for years.
Slovenian basketball player Luka Doncic (L) holds up a jersey as he stands alongside Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick during a press conference introducing Doncic as the newest member of the Los Angeles… Slovenian basketball player Luka Doncic (L) holds up a jersey as he stands alongside Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick during a press conference introducing Doncic as the newest member of the Los Angeles Lakers, at the UCLA Health Training Center, in El Segundo, California on February 4, 2025.
PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images
Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont finally broke his silence about the trade, making some really head-scratching comments about the situation. Dumont spoke with the Dallas Morning News to weigh in on the trade of Doncic.
“It’s hard to make tough decisions,” Dumont said. “And it’s hard to make the right decisions when they’re tough. And it’s easy to do nothing.”
“But when you want to pursue excellence in an organization, you have to make the tough decisions and stand by them and keep going.”
Many fans have called for general manager Nico Harrison to be fired following this deal. But Dumont has now publically backed him following this massive move.
“I’ve said it all along: In Nico we trust,” Dumont said. “You have to respect the track record. You have to respect his intellect. You have to respect his relationships and his judgment and his point of view and the way he communicates.”
“I respect that. Our whole family respects it.”
But even with all of this, his comments about the situation didn’t really reflect the feelings of the fanbase.
Dumont made it clear that the Mavericks want a certain type of player, seemingly taking a final shot at Doncic on his way out.
“If you look at the greats in the league, the people you and I grew up with — [Michael] Jordan, [Larry] Bird, Kobe [Bryant], Shaq [O’Neal] — they worked really hard, every day, with a singular focus to win,” he said. “And if you don’t have that, it doesn’t work. And if you don’t have that, you shouldn’t be part of the Dallas Mavericks.”
“That’s who we want. I’m unwavering on this. The entire organization knows this. This is how I operate outside of basketball. This is the only way to be competitive and win. If you want to take a vacation, don’t do it with us.”
Many Dallas fans likely won’t enjoy the comments from Dumont, especially with the trade being so fresh. The team gave up a 25-year-old superstar in his prime and the repercussions of that may linger with the team for quite some time.
Both sides will eventually move on but the feelings involved will never leave given how everything went down.
More NBA news:
Lakers’ Reasoning for Rescinding Mark Williams Trade Revealed
Mark Cuban Breaks Silence About Mavericks Trading Away Luka Doncic to Lakers
For more NBA news and rumors, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
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