Don Nelson protests Luka Dončić trade as a tremendous mistake
- Don Nelson wore Luka Dončić's Nike shoes to protest their trade to the Lakers.
- The trade involved multiple players and sparked outrage among fans and analysts.
- Nelson believes trading Dončić was a serious mistake for the Mavericks.
In the context of the NBA, former Dallas Mavericks head coach Don Nelson expressed his discontent with a recent trade involving Luka Dončić. This occurred during a significant awards ceremony before Game 2 of the NBA Finals, where Nelson received the Chuck Daily Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to basketball. The announcement of the trade, where Dončić was moved to the Los Angeles Lakers along with teammates Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris in exchange for Anthony Davis and others, shocked many basketball fans and commentators alike. This trade stirred strong emotions among fans and former players due to Dončić's prominent role in leading the Mavericks to the NBA Finals the prior year, marking a pivotal period in franchise history. Nelson, who has a storied coaching legacy, was adamant about his feelings regarding the trade while donning Dončić's signature Nike sneakers as a form of protest. During the press conference, Nelson vocally criticized the trade decision, labeling it a