Luka Doncic reacts to death of NBA legend who fiercely defended him image
Luka Doncic learned of Don Nelson’s death while speaking to reporters Sunday and immediately offered his condolences to the Hall of Fame coach’s family.
Nelson died Sunday at age 86, his family announced. A cause of death was not disclosed. The moment carried a deeper connection than a typical tribute from one NBA star to a basketball legend. Doncic has a close relationship with Nelson’s son, former Dallas Mavericks executive Donnie Nelson, and the two recently partnered to purchase Italian professional basketball club Vanoli Cremona. Don Nelson also became one of Doncic’s loudest public supporters after the Mavericks stunned the NBA by trading him to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2025.
Don Nelson publicly defended Luka Doncic
Nelson was honored with the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award during the 2025 NBA Finals. Rather than use the occasion only to celebrate his own career, Nelson arrived wearing a pair of Doncic’s signature shoes. He explained that the choice was a deliberate protest of the trade that ended Doncic’s tenure in Dallas.
“I’m wearing them in protest for the trade from Dallas,” Nelson said at the time, according to ESPN.
Nelson called the deal a “tremendous mistake” and argued that franchises should honor their greatest players instead of sending them away.
His criticism carried considerable weight.
Nelson coached the Mavericks from 1997 until 2005 and helped transform one of the NBA’s least successful franchises into a consistent contender. He also played an instrumental role in the development of Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash, giving him firsthand knowledge of how transcendent talent can change an organization.
He believed Doncic deserved the same opportunity to spend his career as the centerpiece in Dallas.
MORE: Don Nelson dies at 86: Tributes pour in for one of NBA's all-time winningest coaches
Doncic Shares Close Connection With Nelson Family
Doncic’s bond with the Nelson family largely developed through Donnie, who spent more than two decades in the Mavericks’ front office. Donnie Nelson helped orchestrate Dallas’ draft-night trade for Doncic in 2018. The deal sent Trae Young and a future first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks, allowing the Mavericks to secure the Slovenian star with the No. 3 overall selection.
That move changed the franchise.
Doncic became an immediate All-Star, eventually led Dallas to the 2024 NBA Finals and established himself as one of the greatest players in Mavericks history. Years after their respective departures from Dallas, Doncic and Donnie Nelson reunited in another basketball venture. They became part of an ownership group that purchased Vanoli Cremona with plans to relocate the club to Rome for the 2026-27 season.
Don Nelson built his own extraordinary legacy. He won five championships as a Boston Celtics player before becoming one of basketball’s greatest innovators. His 1,335 regular-season coaching victories remain the second-most in NBA history, behind only Gregg Popovich.
Nelson’s influence reached nearly every corner of the league. For Doncic, however, the connection became personal. Nelson publicly stood beside him during one of the most difficult chapters of his career. Doncic did not hesitate to return that support when the Nelson family suffered its loss.
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