Thursday, July 10, 2025
HomeNBA“Wouldn't have happened to me”: Ex-GM Nelson slams Mavs over Doncic

“Wouldn’t have happened to me”: Ex-GM Nelson slams Mavs over Doncic

Ex-Mavs GM Donnie Nelson has once again sharply criticized the trade of Luka Doncic. The longtime decision-maker in Dallas accused the current regime around Nico Harrsion of disrespect.

The 62-year-old was recently introduced as an advisor to the Slovenian national team. Nelson served as general manager for the Dallas Mavericks between 2005 and 2021. Under him, the Texans orchestrated the trade on draft day that brought Luka Doncic to the Mavs.

“In the NBA, there are trades, players come and go,” Nelson said in an interview with Slovenian outlet Ekipa 24. “But you have to understand that not all players are the same. Some are even more important to the team and the community, and it’s important to treat those players with respect.”

After the Doncic trade, GM Nico Harrison came under constant fire, receiving death threats and protests outside and inside the arena. “Fire Nico” chants were a constant feature of home games after the deal. Nelson went on to say that he had disappointed a lot of people. “Would something like this have happened at Real Madrid? Never. And it wouldn’t have happened if I was still in charge in Dallas.”

Nelson draws comparison with Nowitzki

The son of coaching legend Don Nelson emphasized that during his time, players who earned their keep were always treated with respect, citing Dirk Nowitzki as an example, who was undisputed during his years in Dallas. “Dirk Nowitzki was here for 21 years and the last three seasons he was here out of pure respect,” Nelson noted. “People like him deserve to say goodbye on their own terms.” He also includes Doncic in this category.

However, there is now hope again for the Dallas Mavericks, as they landed the first pick in the draft lottery. The Texans selected top talent Cooper Flagg and are looking to rebuild after missing the playoffs last year. Doncic played in Dallas for almost seven years and ranks sixth on the all-time scoring list with 12,089 points. In 2024, he led the franchise to the NBA Finals for the second time after 2011, but the Mavericks lost 1-4 to the Boston Celtics.

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