Ex-Mavs coach Don Nelson: Trading Doncic 'was a tremendous mistake'

Hall of Fame head coach Don Nelson took issue with the Dallas Mavericks' decision to trade Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers this season.

Nelson, who coached the Mavs from 1997 to 2005, called out his former team Sunday while being honored with the 2025 Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Basketball Coaches Association.

"I want everybody to know I'm wearing Luka's shoes - his new shoes from Nike, just got on the market - and I'm wearing them in protest for the trade from Dallas," Nelson said, via HoopsHype. "I think it was a tremendous mistake by the Dallas franchise to trade him, and I want everybody to know that."

Nelson isn't the first person with a connection to the Dallas organization to vocalize their disappointment with the Doncic trade. Mavs legend Dirk Nowitzki admitted he felt "disappointed and sad" for Doncic, while former majority owner Mark Cuban said he was "just as dumfounded as everybody else" by the move.

The Mavs finished the season 10th in the Western Conference at 39-43 and hold the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.