Donald Trump Calls Out Mavericks Over Luka Doncic's Lakers Move: 'Might Be The Worst Trade In Sports History'
Credits: Imagn Images
President Donald Trump recently addressed the GOP’s annual midterm convention at the American Airlines Center, home of the Mavericks in Dallas. Trump used the opportunity to take a shot at the Dallas Mavericks for trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in February 2025, arguably the most controversial trade in NBA history.
“I must tell you, I don’t understand the trade. That trade is not good. What do I know about basketball? I’ve got to say, it’s not going to go down as the greatest trade in the history of sports. It might go down as the worst trade in the history of sports,” Donald Trump said.
“No, actually, you know the worst trade in the history of sports, right? The great Babe Ruth, a 19-year-old pitcher, for a 36-year-old third baseman for $100,000. At that time, it was $10 million, I guess, because Boston needed money. So Babe will always remain the worst trade.”
“But is it Luka? That’s not good; maybe it wasn’t good. Maybe we can redo that trade? I redo deals all the time. We got to redo that deal. I don’t get that deal; some deals you just understand, and I understand deals, but I didn’t quite get that one. Somebody from Dallas can maybe explain it to me,” the POTUS concluded.
From being the first active president to attend an NBA Finals game to openly calling out LeBron James in the GOAT debate over their differences, President Trump has suddenly inserted himself into the basketball world as a radical NBA fan.
Notably, President Trump is taking shots at the Mavericks, whose owner, Miriam Adelson, has been one of his biggest supporters. She recently pledged $250 million to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, hoping to help him find a way to contest for a third term.
Luka Doncic was just stepping into his prime when the Mavericks decided to trade him to the Lakers for a package centered around Anthony Davis.
During his time with the Mavericks, he averaged 28.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 8.2 assists over seven seasons and 472 games (including the playoffs). He shot 46.9% from the field and 34.8% from the three-point line during this period.
The Dallas Mavericks’ decision to cut ties with Luka Doncic ultimately had disastrous results.
In November of last year, team owner Patrick Dumont fired Nico Harrison as general manager and president of the Mavericks because of the team’s dismal 3-8 start to the previous NBA season and growing fan protests.
Anthony Davis suffered numerous injuries while he was in Dallas. After just 20 games played last season, the Mavericks finally gave up and traded him to the Washington Wizards to fully commit to Cooper Flagg.
The Mavericks hired Masai Ujiri as their new president of basketball operations and selected NCAA champion head coach Dusty May to replace Jason Kidd this offseason after the Luka Doncic trade failed.
It seems to me the Mavericks will likely be haunted by the deal involving the Slovenian superstar that altered the league’s landscape, even though landing Flagg spares them a worse future after the Doncic trade.