Even though nearly two years have passed, the Luka Doncic trade remains infamously memorable, especially given how things have unfolded for the Dallas Mavericks.
As far as Donald Trump is concerned, that trade is arguably the worst in sports history.
In his keynote address during the Republican Party's first-ever Midterm Convention in Dallas on Wednesday, the United States president called out the Mavericks franchise for executing the blunderous deal.
“I must tell you, I don't understand the trade," Trump said, "That trade is not good. What do I know about basketball?
"Was it Luka? Maybe we can redo that trade? I redo deals all the time. It might go down as the worst trade in the history of sports.”
Trump's full remarks about the Doncic trade can be watched below.
Luka Doncic trade revisited
In a historic, multi-player blockbuster last 2024-25 season, the Los Angeles Lakers acquired Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris from the Dallas Mavericks in a three-team trade with the Utah Jazz.
Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round draft pick were sent to Dallas.
The trade completely left the entire sports community stunned. Fresh from leading the Mavs to the 2024 NBA Finals and fully dedicated to spending his whole career in Dallas, Doncic was crushed and blindsided by Nico Harrison and the Mavs leadership's decision to dump him.
The Mavs have reportedly grown frustrated by Doncic's conditioning, prompting them to trade him to LA and go all-in by getting Davis to satisfy Harrison's vision of a defensive-minded title team.
The trade sparked backlash in the basketball world, permanently leaving a scar on the devastated Dallas fanbase.
Luka Doncic trade backfired and ruined Mavericks
In the end, the Dallas Mavericks' decision to part ways with Luka Doncic led to a disastrous outcome.
After a miserable 3-8 start last NBA season and their fanbase's intensifying protests, team owner Patrick Dumont dismissed Nico Harrison from his duties as general manager and president of the Mavericks last November.
Anthony Davis' time in Dallas was plagued by injuries. He played just 20 games last season, as the Mavericks finally gave up and traded him to the Washington Wizards to fully commit the franchise to Cooper Flagg.
The failure of the Doncic trade urged Dallas to create new leadership, as the Mavs hired Masai Ujiri as their new top executive and tapped NCAA champion head coach Dusty May to replace Jason Kidd this offseason.
While Flagg's presence saves them from a dreadful future after the Doncic trade, the Mavs will forever be haunted by the deal around the Slovenian superstar that changed the league's landscape.