Donnie Nelson, the former longtime Dallas Mavericks executive who helped build the team around Dirk Nowitzki and Luka Dončić, believes the two franchise icons should have been treated the same, and weren’t.
In an exclusive interview with Ekipa 24, Nelson reflected on the organization’s legacy of loyalty with Nowitzki and expressed disappointment over how Dončić’s time in Dallas ended with a February 2025 trade to the Los Angeles Lakers.
“We were with Dirk Nowitzki for 21 years, and the last three years were out of pure respect,” Nelson told Ekipa 24. “People like that deserve to say goodbye on their own terms and according to their wishes, and everyone deserves a decent funeral – figurative or literal.”
Nelson said the Mavericks used to operate with a community-first mindset — valuing long-term relationships, loyalty, and the cultural significance of a star’s connection to the city.
“During my years in Dallas, we always considered what was important to that community,” Nelson said. “And we looked at the players being a part of that. It was never like we went to one of our ATMs, took out a player, used him until he was most useful, and then threw him away.”
While Nowitzki was celebrated with a farewell tour and ultimately had a statue erected outside American Airlines Center, Dončić — who became the face of the franchise and an international superstar under Nelson’s leadership — was traded at age 25 in the prime of his career.
“Of course, this is the NBA, and trades can happen; players come and go,” Nelson said. “But with all due respect, you have to understand that some players are different, special, and even more important to the environment and the community. It’s important to treat those players with respect.”
Nelson didn’t directly criticize the front office but clarified that Dončić’s exit didn’t reflect the values that had defined the Mavericks during his tenure.
“That’s why there was so much disappointment after what happened to Luka,” he said. “Not just my disappointment, but a universal disappointment. Could this happen to Real [Madrid]? Never. And it wouldn’t have happened when I was in Dallas.”
Nelson served as the Mavericks’ general manager and president of basketball operations during Nowitzki’s entire career and was the driving force behind the trade that brought Dončić to Dallas in 2018. He parted ways with the organization in 2021 but has publicly supported both players.
Dončić is now focused on the Lakers for the next chapter of his career. At the same time, Nelson has re-entered the international basketball world as a strategic advisor for the Slovenian national team ahead of EuroBasket 2025.
“These things — the relationships, the values — they last forever,” Nelson said.
29 comments
Pretty good description
It was and still is a terrible trade for the Mavs and thats coming from a Lakers fan
Still one of the dumbest trades Dallas ever did but hey their consolation price was Cooper Flagg thanks Adam Silver
When front office moves happen that seem to blindside a player, people often say “it’s a business, the players know that.”
But **relationships** matter in business too, and ignoring that will come back to haunt you, especially when you have to deal with that player’s agency again (which is a near inevitability):
Bill Duffy (Luka’s agent) represents 28 active NBA players. That’s 4th most among NBA agents behind Mark Bartelstein (39), Jeff Schwartz (37), and Rich Paul (34).
You can bet Duffy will remember how Nico treated Luka, his star client, for a long time, and will steer away his other clients from Dallas unless they have no other options.
Nico looks like the most miserable bastard ever since the trade, he’s effectively in the hall of infamy.
Hope history remembers that it is pure luck if they do well from here on out
I wonder what their financial projections say. I know I checked out from the franchise. If Flagg and Davis help them win a ring, good for them. But they are not the *Mavs* I became a fan of. I can’t be the only one.
It would have never happened if Donnie was GM, but then again nothing would ever happen if Donnie was GM.
Tell that to Seth Curry
Nico: But what if we said fuck the community
This is part of why I hope the Bucks never trade Giannis even if it’s objectively the right move. This city and that young man have grown so much together over the last 12 years. So much of the area around the Forum itself was quite literally nothing and wouldn’t be developed now if not for him. Beyond that, although I’m sure it sounds corny, I think the city is just proud of him.
Of course, if he ever wants out, the team and city should accept that request and wish him well. But I hope the team itself never makes that decision for him. I legitimately believe the city would suffer without him. He’s more than just a basketball player to us.
Keep in mind, Nico’s unqualified trainers were trying to force him back to the court on 2 weeks rest of a calf strain. Luka and his medical team had to fight for 6 weeks and that’s what prompted Nico to finally go through with a backstabbing trade.
Said the guy who traded Harrison Barnes in the middle of a game.
Honestly a shock that Dirk managed 2 finals and a championship in his era, with this buffoon in the front office the whole time. Wasted Dirk’s prime and twilight years. Truly a “broken clock is right at least twice a day” type of GM.
donnie spittin
fire fucking nico
Remembers the Mavs complete disassembly of their championship team with the idea of signing a major free agent. Hmm.. doubt.
Like, you let Tyson Chandler, a player without whom you never would have won walk out the door while all but calling him a scrub you have to sacrifice if you want to get one of the star players.
U ijjj I’m here mom.
Don Nelson is a stone cold baller. Coolest dude from the NBA last 30 years
So which is it?..is it a) league conspiracy with nba having motive to make lakers great post lebron and mavs consolation prize of getting cooper flag or b) nico really is that bad of a gm and got incredibly lucky to win the cooper flag race.
Cook, Donnie! Fkin cook!!!
This is such corporate bullcrap y’all were singing happy families before hell nah yall protected one superstar that’s it everyone else was disposable like the ATM.
And that era doesn’t exist anymore, haven’t for a long time for players or teams
My Mavs fandom has waned considerably. I’m glad they got Flagg and they theoretically have a great team but still, WTH, why did they do that?
If you own an NBA franchise, the biggest profit is not from having a competitive team. In fact, even trying to have competitive team can be extraordinarily expensive and risky because of tax, repeater tax, and missing of t on distribution (see, Phoenix).
The biggest profit is in the overall growth of the league and increase in franchise value, and the share in expansion fees.
Therefore – why would you want to pay Luka, as great as he is, when you can just pay some rookies and make the play in once in awhile. Just as likely you’ll get lucky one year like pacers this year, without having to risk a super max salary.
That’s a stupid quote, that’s literally what every front office does, and that’s not what the Luka trade is idiotic
BAH GAWD THAT’S DONNIE NELSON’S MUSIC!!
You just be chilling on a random Saturday, and all of a sudden Donnie Nelson comes running out with a steel chair to just WALLOP the Mavericks
Why is still being talked about?
Nico is walking the thin rope on his execution from Mavs fans 😂.
Crazy headline from a guy who was a part of immediately blowing up a team’s first and only championship roster to chase Dwight Howard.
Couldn’t agree more
People need to stop crying. Dallas didn’t want to pay a supermax contract and banish themselves to purgatory because of it.
Look at every team with a supermax player…they’re all NOT contenders.
Late stage capitalism has even arrived in the NBA, it seems.