Hall of Famer Don Nelson Protests Luka Doncic Trade at NBA Finals

Hall of Fame coach Don Nelson publicly protested the Dallas Mavericks' trade of Luka Doncic by wearing Doncic's signature Nike shoes during the NBA Finals while accepting the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award. Nelson criticized the trade as a "tremendous mistake," emphasizing his belief in retaining generational players, a philosophy inspired by Red Auerbach, and expressed disappointment over Dallas letting go of Doncic. The trade sent Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, causing significant uproar among Mavericks fans and impacting the team's performance negatively. Nelson's connection to Dallas, where he coached for eight seasons and where his son served as an executive, adds weight to his stance. Despite some fans' frustration easing after the Mavericks secured the top draft pick, Nelson's protest highlighted ongoing discontent with the franchise's decision. His public support for Doncic underscores the deep divide the trade has created within the NBA community.