Latest news with #DonnieNelson
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Doncic Trade Has 'Shocked' Donnie Trashing Mavs GM Nico for No 'Decent Funeral'
Doncic Trade Has 'Shocked' Donnie Trashing Mavs GM Nico for No 'Decent Funeral' originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Donnie Nelson was the architect of the best Dallas Mavericks rosters in franchise history during his reign as general manager and director of basketball operations from 1998-2021. His resume is bookended by bringing two of the franchise's best players to Dallas: Dirk Nowitzki and Luka Doncic. Advertisement Nelson was with Dallas for the entirety of Nowitzki's career, but his time came to an end early into Doncic's, mutually parting ways with the Mavericks before Nico Harrison was hired as his replacement. Harrison struck the sports world and Mavs fanbase ablaze a couple years into his job when he traded the new franchise icon in Doncic. Even worse than the ridiculousness of the trade and its return was Harrison and the Mavericks' handling of the situation, often referencing Doncic in a demeaning tone and making countless questionable media and press decisions amid the scrutiny. Like many fans, Nelson was not pleased. Not just with The Trade to begin with, but with the manner in which Harrison and the team tried to put out the fire in the aftermath. Nelson didn't hold back his thoughts when discussing the situation with Slovenian news outlet Ekipa 24. He has recently been hired as a special advisor to the Slovenian national team, reuniting with Slovenia's finest Doncic in pursuit of Olympic qualification in 2028. Advertisement The former Mavericks exec couldn't help but compare Doncic's career with that of Nowitzki's, ripping the Mavs for their disrespect to a franchise great. 'We were with Dirk Nowitzki for 21 years, and the last three years were out of pure respect," Nelly said about Nowitzki's twilight before official retirement. "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.' Harrison did not give Doncic that treatment whatsoever, breaking the news on a Friday night that had actually been in the works long before Luka willed the Mavericks to the NBA Finals. Nelson poignantly had a one-word response to the trade itself: "shocked". Advertisement And further ... "still shocked". "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 added. Donnie also stated that this situation simply "wouldn't have happened" under his watch. So much of the "loyalty" energy that flowed through Mavericks organization during Dirk's tenure had evaporated in the waning moments of Luka's ... and that emptiness still remains. However, Harrison has had a guardian angel in the form of a ping-pong ball that won Dallas the lottery and awarded the No. 1 overall draft pick with the right to add star phenom Cooper Flagg to the roster. Advertisement Harrison surely has learned from these mistakes, whether he's listened to Nelson and the fans' harsh criticism or not. Nico has stated that Flagg is a generational, "once-in-a-lifetime" player ... but as Nelson might agree... We've already seen how he handled one of those. Related: Mavs' Official Summer League Roster and Schedule Announced Related: Luka Doncic and Donnie Nelson International Reunion Announced This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Luka Doncic, Ex-Mavericks GM reunite with Slovenian National Team
The post Luka Doncic, Ex-Mavericks GM reunite with Slovenian National Team appeared first on ClutchPoints. Luka Doncic is set to reunite with former Dallas Mavericks general manager Donnie Nelson. Nelson, who played a major role in selecting Doncic at the 2018 NBA Draft, has been named a special adviser to the Slovenian national team and will play a role at the upcoming 2025 EuroBasket tournament. Advertisement 'Former Mavericks general manager Donnie Nelson has been named as a special adviser to Slovenia's national team … reuniting him with Luka Dončić,' wrote Marc Stein on X, formerly Twitter. Nelson served as the Mavericks GM from 2005-21 after previously being an assistant coach. He played a huge role assembling the 2011 title-winning team and also has a strong resume in international basketball. Donnie Nelson has worked for multiple national teams including Lithuania, China, and Team USA. He joins Slovenia as a special advisor at a time when the team is looking to build on their bronze-medal finish at the Tokyo Olympics. Nelson's first assignment comes in the form of EuroBasket 2025, where Slovenia has been placed in Group D alongside the likes of Poland, France, Belgium, Iceland and Israel. 'Becoming a part of Slovenian basketball is a great honor for me. I look forward to working with Matej Erjavec, Sasa Doncic and everyone at the Basketball Federation of Slovenia,' Nelson said about the move. Advertisement The reunion has special significance as Nelson had previously called the Mavericks' decision to trade Doncic a 'tremendous mistake.' He attended Game 2 of the 2025 NBA Finals wearing Luka Doncic's signature Jordan shoes as a form of 'protest,' terming the former Mavericks man a 'generational player' who should never have been traded. Nelson's international career began with Lithuania back in 1990. He helped the team win three Olympic bronze medals alongside a EuroBasket gold back in 2003. Further, he also helped the China national team to their best-ever Olympics finish at Athens 2004, where they finished 8th, along with guiding them to gold at the 2005 Asian Championships. Related: Luka Doncic hilariously comments on ex-Mavericks teammate Kyrie Irving's Instagram post Related: Cooper Flagg highlights Mavericks' Summer League roster
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Luka Doncic and Donnie Nelson International Reunion Announced
Luka Doncic and Donnie Nelson International Reunion Announced originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Dallas Mavericks altered the course of their franchise by inexplicably trading 25-year-old superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in February. Advertisement General manager Nico Harrison made the move less than a year after Doncic led the Mavs to their third NBA Finals ever. The Slovenian star, who battled through injury throughout the postseason run, also took part in a Paris Olympics qualifying tournament for his home country Slovenia shortly after the Finals in 2024. Doncic has always taken pride in representing his country on the global stage, having played in European leagues and for his national team for years before making it to the NBA in 2018. Now he has a former Mavericks staffer joining him in those international endeavors. Former Mavericks general manager and director of basketball operations Donnie Nelson has accepted a special advisor role with the Slovenian national team, according to NBA reporter Marc Stein. Advertisement Nelson was an instrumental figure in bringing international stars Dirk Nowitzki and Doncic to Dallas when they were drafted. Stein noted that Nelson also has experience with Lithuania's national team in an assistant coach capacity. The Slovenian federation announced that Nelson will "advise the federation's leadership and the national team staff." The move reunites Nelson with Doncic for the first time since Luka's shocking dismissal from Dallas. The former remains impressed by Luka's ability to lead the Slovenian team, as they have big goals for the upcoming Olympics. 'Becoming a part of Slovenian basketball is a great honor for me," Nelson said. "I look forward to working with Matej Erjavec, Sasa Doncic and everyone at the Basketball Federation of Slovenia." Advertisement 'Watching Luka lead the team to a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, I became excited about the potential,' he added. 'I can't wait to see what the Slovenian national team can achieve in the future. I sincerely hope to be in Los Angeles in 2028. I look forward to being a part of its journey.' The executive responsible for building the Mavericks' 2011 championship roster "mutually agreed to part ways" with the organization in 2021, ending Nelson's 24-year tenure in Dallas. That marked the official end of an era, as Nelson was a second-generation Mavericks icon. His father Don was the team's head coach from 1997-2005. Related: Mavericks Nearing Jason Kidd Decision Amid NBA Coaching Shuffle Related: Lakers Championship Coach Hired By Dallas Mavericks Amid Major Changes This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lakers, Mavericks Personnel Joining Luka Doncic on Slovenian Team
Lakers, Mavericks Personnel Joining Luka Doncic on Slovenian Team originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Five-time All-NBA first team Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic will be joined by two new familiar faces on the Slovenian national team. Advertisement The 6-foot-6 pro, 26, is gearing up for EuroBasket competition this summer. Doncic grappled with a calf injury for much of the 2024-25 season, and was limited to just 50 healthy games. A surprise midseason acquisition for the Lakers, Doncic played just 28 bouts in L.A. When healthy, he still put up numbers that would be the envy of pretty much anybody else. Doncic averaged 28.2 points while slashing .438/.379/.791, 8.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1.6 steals a night. Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) dribbles the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves during Game 3 of the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Target Johnson-Imagn Images Ex-Dallas Mavericks general manager Donnie Nelson, the man who traded for Doncic's draft rights in the 2018 NBA draft, will serve as the Slovenian team's special advisor, reports Marc Stein of The Stein Line. Advertisement Stein notes that Nelson has previously logged significant team with the Lithuanian national team. Stein adds that a current Lakers assistant coach under JJ Redick, Greg St. Jean, will join the Slovenian team, too, for EuroBasket player. As Stein notes, this will enable Doncic to "have a daily Lakers presence alongside him" as he plays during the offseason. This summer, Doncic will be eligible to sign a long-term maximum extension with Los Angeles. The Lakers no doubt hope that Doncic will sign a four-season, $228.6 million contract extension to linger with the team long-term. If he doesn't, Doncic has a $49 million player option for the 2026-27 season, meaning he could become an unrestricted free agent as soon as next summer. Advertisement Related: How Lakers Made Luka Dončić Feel Special in Debut With Team This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lakers' Luka Doncic reunites with former Mavericks GM in shocking offseason move
The Los Angeles Lakers' star point guard, Luka Doncic, was a Dallas Mavericks phenom not too long ago. Doncic competed with the Mavericks for nearly seven seasons, helping the organization reach new heights in the post Dirk Nowitzki era (Dallas completed a surprising NBA Finals run during the 2023-24 campaign). Advertisement However, on Feb. 2, the Lakers poached the five-time All-Star from Dallas in an unbelievable trade that forced Los Angeles to part ways with Anthony Davis. While Doncic likely isn't fond of the Mavericks in early July, he will reunite with a former member of the organization in a shocking offseason move. 'Former Mavericks general manager Donnie Nelson has been named as a special adviser to Slovenia's national team, reuniting him with Luka Doncic,' The Stein Line's Marc Stein reported Friday. 'Nelson has a long history in the international game working with Lithuania's national team.' Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp Advertisement The Lakers should thank the Mavericks for relieving Nelson of his duties in 2021 after serving as the franchise's GM for 16 years. If the 62-year-old was still a pivotal member of the organization, there's a good chance that Doncic wouldn't be continuing his NBA career in Los Angeles alongside LeBron James and Austin Reaves. Considering Nelson played a crucial role in landing Doncic in 2018 and had high hopes for the young stud, the concept isn't too far-fetched. During EuroBasket 2025, Nelson and Doncic will help lead Slovenia as they face France, Poland, Belgium, Israel, and Iceland in Group D. More NBA: Warriors agree to historic seven-team trade involving two-time NBA champion Kevin Durant
