By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
With Luka Doncic and fans alike struggling but eventually coming to terms with the blockbuster trade sending the Slovenian combo guard to the Los Angeles Lakers in February, the Dallas Mavericks’ chief executive officer, Rick Welts, revisited the deal, pointing to positives, including the reactions by loyals in Dallas.
“You can’t have fear or regrets in this business, it’s all about how you move forward,” the 72-year-old American executive replied to a question about possibly regretting the trade, in an interview with Bloomberg TV.
“I learned about the depth of the connection between Mavericks fans and this team,” he referred to frustrated supporters then expressing their disapproval, “And that to me was a glass half-full because I knew we could restore that over time. I didn’t think it would quite as quickly as it’s perhaps as it’s happened.”
The trade sent Doncic, alongside German big Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris, to the Lakers. Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a future first-round draft pick went to the Mavs. The Jazz were also involved, receiving Jalen Hood-Schifino and a future second-round selection.
“I would also say I’m incredibly proud of how the organization presented itself for Luka’s first game back at American Airlines Center when he was a Los Angeles Laker,” Welts also talked about Doncic returning to Dallas later in the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season, “If you watch that game, it was an opportunity for fans to say ‘thank you.’ I think you saw the emotion on Luka’s face, you saw the way that night unfolded in tributes to Luka. I think he’ll always be such a big part of the history here. We wish him nothing but good luck, and we also hope we beat his team every time we play them.”
Before focusing on his eighth NBA campaign and his first full year with the Lakers, Doncic will suit up for his country’s senior national team in the EuroBasket 2025. The tournament is set to be played between August 27 and September 14, with Slovenia heading to Katowice for the preliminary round.