Luka Dončić released a letter to Dallas touting the city as a “special place” and Mavericks fans as “special fans” upon the news of his stunning trade to the Los Angeles Lakers.
His father Saša Dončić was considerably less subdued in his reaction to the Mavericks’ decision to deal away their 25-year-old franchise player and perennial MVP candidate. Saša Dončić, a former professional player and head coach in Slovenia, made his feelings known in a candid interview with Arena Sport Slovenia on Sunday.
Without naming names, he slammed the “hypocrisy” of Mavericks brass involved in the trade.
“I understand there comes a moment when you disagree with a certain philosophy — you don’t like this or that player, all good, get it,” Saša Dončić said, per Arena Sport translation.
“But I think that exactly this secrecy, or should I say from some individuals, maybe even hypocrisy, this hurts me personally. Because I think that Luka absolutely doesn’t deserve this.”
Saša echoed Luka’s professed love for Dallas while touting his charitable work in the city since joining the Mavericks from Europe in 2018.
“I feel like this is very unfair from some individuals because I know that Luka respected Dallas a lot,” Saša continued. “He respected the whole city, Dallas. Helped children. It was never a problem for him to go to hospitals and to — I don’t know, orphanages and to all these charity events.”
Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison has been the Mavericks’ public face of the trade decision in multiple interview since the deal took place late Saturday. In an interview with ESPN, he justified the trade by declaring that “defense wins championships.”
“I believe that defense wins championships,” Harrison told ESPN. “I believe that getting an All-Defensive center and an All-NBA player with a defensive mindset gives us a better chance. We’re built to win now and in the future.”
Davis, 31, is a three-time blocks champion and a five-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection.
Saša addresses reports about Luka’s conditioning
According to an ESPN report, Harrison was dissatisfied with Luka Dončić’s conditioning, and there was “extreme frustration throughout the organization about Doncic’s lackadaisical approach to diet and conditioning, which Mavs decision-makers believed negatively impacted his durability.”
Dončić has been sidelined for 19 games with a calf injury that he suffered on Christmas. Saša addressed the reports about Luka’s conditioning with Arena Sport.
“It wasn’t even a problem last year since, I am saying again — one individual said he’s not fit enough that he played, I don’t know, 100 games practically 40 minutes with two, three players constantly on him,” Saša said. “That he was beaten and you say such things about him. I feel that this is very unfair from certain individuals.
“You traded him. Stand by your actions. But don’t look for excuses, alibis and that’s it.”
Last season, Dončić played 37.5 minutes per game in 70 regular-season games, then 40.9 minutes per game in 22 postseason games while leading the Mavericks to the NBA Finals as a first-team All-NBA selection for a fifth-straight season.
Now, less than a season after leading the Mavericks to their first Finals appearance since 2011, Dončić will attempt to do the same for the Western Conference-rival Lakers.
Luka Dončić’s dad Saša slams ‘hypocrisy’ of ex-Mavericks star’s trade to Lakers: ‘Luka absolutely doesn’t deserve this’
In a recent interview, Saša Dončić, the father of NBA star Luka Dončić, expressed his frustration and disappointment with the trade that sent his son from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers. Saša Dončić criticized the “hypocrisy” of the decision and insisted that Luka did not deserve to be traded.
“Luka has given his all to the Mavericks and has been a loyal and dedicated player for years. It is truly disappointing to see him being traded in this manner,” Saša Dončić said. “The hypocrisy of the situation is evident, and it is clear that Luka absolutely doesn’t deserve this treatment.”
Saša Dončić went on to praise his son’s work ethic and commitment to the game, highlighting the impact Luka has had on the Mavericks and the NBA as a whole. He urged fans and analysts to consider the human side of the trade and to remember the hard work and dedication that Luka has put into his career.
The trade of Luka Dončić to the Lakers has been met with mixed reactions from fans and analysts, with many questioning the motives behind the move. Saša Dončić’s comments shed light on the emotional toll that trades can have on players and their families, emphasizing the need for empathy and understanding in these situations.
As Luka Dončić prepares to start a new chapter with the Lakers, his father’s words serve as a reminder of the sacrifices and challenges that come with being a professional athlete. Despite the disappointment of the trade, Saša Dončić remains supportive of his son and confident in his ability to succeed in his new team.
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Luka Dončić, Saša Dončić, Mavericks, Lakers, trade, NBA, basketball, family, hypocrisy, father, son, controversy
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