In speaking with Trump, Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta jabs Dallas for Luka Doncic trade
In speaking with Trump, Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta jabs Dallas for Luka Doncic trade 'We talked about that dumbass Luka Doncic trade Dallas did,' Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta said with a smile regarding a recent conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Billionaire Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta has a significant presence at the University of Houston (UH), where he has served as chairman of the of the UH System Board of Regents since 2009. The university's basketball arena renovation was largely financed by Fertitta and is now named the Fertitta Center.
With Fertitta's investments helping to spark a revival of the program, the men's program at UH has enjoyed two NCAA Final Four appearances this decade, including a run to the national championship game earlier this month.
So, it was only natural that Fertitta took part Wednesday in an on-campus celebration of the team's wildly successful 2024-25 season. And in his on-mic comments, he also took an NBA-related jab at the Dallas Mavericks, longstanding division rivals of the Rockets.
Fertitta has long had a business relationship with current U.S. President Donald Trump, and they could soon have a political one if Fertitta is confirmed by the Senate, as expected, as the new U.S. Ambassador to Italy. In his comments at the UH celebration, Fertitta said he had brought up the Cougars' success in recent conversations with Trump.
He then added, with a smile (via Chancellor Johnson):
And then we talked about that dumbass Luka Doncic trade Dallas did.
With Doncic leading the way alongside LeBron James, the Lakers finished as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference and are currently tied in a first-round playoff series with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison has found himself as the butt of many jokes for the deal that sent the 26-year-old Doncic to Los Angeles for a package headlined by a 32-year-old Anthony Davis — who is six years older and with a much more extensive injury history.
Those criticisms have only picked up in recent days, since the Mavericks finished the 2024-25 season as the No. 10 seed in the West and were subsequently eliminated from postseason contention in the play-in tournament (with Davis limping on numerous occasions in their elimination loss).
With the Mavs taking a step back, the playoff-bound Rockets (52-30) finished the regular season as the West's No. 2 seed while clinching their first Southwest Division title in five years. And their owner, Fertitta, is understandably having a laugh at the expense of his in-state, divisional rival.
More: Tilman Fertitta says ownership of Rockets won't be affected by U.S. Ambassador stint
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New York Times
28 minutes ago
- New York Times
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While he plays with a high motor, his limited agility and vertical explosiveness also cast doubts over whether he can be a plus defender. Demin met with the Nets at the combine, reportedly impressing several teams with his maturity. He also shot the ball very well during his pro day in Chicago. If that area of his game comes around, he has star upside as a lead offensive initiator. If it doesn't, he'll end up looking like a reach as a top-10 selection. Related: 3 players Brooklyn Nets must avoid in 2025 NBA Draft Related: NBA rumors: Lakers' Austin Reaves trade strategy as 2 center targets emerge
