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Don Nelson to Wear Luka Doncic Sneakers in Silent Protest of Mavericks Trade

He will wear Luka 4s at the Chuck Daly Award ceremony to underscore lingering criticism of Dallas’s midseason deal

Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers brings the ball up court during the first quarter against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena on April 11, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Nelson was the coach and GM of the Mavs for eight years
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Overview

  • Don Nelson plans to don Doncic’s signature Luka 4 sneakers at the 2025 Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award ceremony as a silent protest.
  • Nelson called the February deal that sent the five-time All-NBA guard to the Lakers indefensible and said he was deeply disappointed.
  • The 85-year-old coach led the Mavericks from 1997 to 2005 and helped facilitate Dallas’s 2018 draft-night trade to acquire Doncic’s rights.
  • Since joining Los Angeles, Doncic has elevated the Lakers into playoff contention while Dallas has struggled without him.
  • The Mavericks received the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft as part of the trade and are now preparing to rebuild around young assets.