Former Mavericks Coach Explains Why Luka Doncic Trade Pushed Him Out Of Dallas

Former NBA player and Mavericks coach God Shammgod isn’t hiding his feelings about why he left the Mavericks. On the 'It Is What It Is' podcast, the longtime player development coach admitted that Luka Doncic’s trade was the turning point, calling it “spooky times” in Dallas and confessing it was too hard to watch.

“The thing about Dallas was, it was just getting spooky times, man," said Shammgod. "I love Dallas, and I’m cool with everyone that’s over there. When the [Doncic trade] went down, it was one of those things, if someone treats your man like that, it’s a countdown.”

Luka Doncic wasn't just an average player for the Mavericks; he was part of their identity. For six and a half years, he served as their shining star both on and off the court. Luka, now 26, came into the league with heightened expectations, and he somehow managed to surpass them all in just his first few years in the NBA.

As a member of the Mavericks, Luka was absolutely dominant with averages of 28.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game on 47.0% shooting. He led the Mavericks to the Finals in 2024, and he was eager to help them go all the way in the years to come. Sadly, he never got the chance.

Once Mark Cuban lost control of the franchise, Nico Harrison had the full green light to trade Luka, and he didn't hesitate to seize the opportunity. In a shocking move, Harrison betrayed Doncic and traded him in at the deadline for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and draft compensation.

While the Mavericks have not shown any regrets about the decision, the fans are still reeling, and it will take them a long time to trust this front office again. For Shammgod, the whole experience was enough to walk away before things spiraled further.

As someone with inside access, he saw how toxic things had become, and he knew it was only just the beginning. Worst of all, he felt that the Mavericks had no sense of loyalty after discarding their franchise superstar without hesitation. If they could let go of Luka so easily, then how could he trust his own position on the franchise? The whole thing just left a bad taste in his mouth, and he will never see the Mavericks the same again. 

Today, while we have yet to see the results of this mega deal, the Mavericks aren't exactly in a great position. While they have a great and star-studded roster on paper (Anthony Davis, Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson), most of their core players are either injury-prone or past their prime. In the case of Flagg, he has yet to prove he's even close to Luka's level. Ultimately, unless the Mavs can make a title run, letting go of Luka could prove to be the ultimate mistake.

For Shammgod, the Luka trade was a sign that loyalty no longer had a place in Dallas, and that was enough for him to step away. Whether the Mavericks can recover from that decision remains to be seen, but for many, including Shammgod, it already feels like they lost far more than they gained.