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Luka Dončić’s Father Calls Out Mavericks for 'Unfair' Treatment

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nick Wright | Last updated Feb 4, 2025 2:19 PM ET

Luka Dončić wasn’t just another NBA superstar to the city of Dallas—he was their franchise player, their generational talent, and the hope for their future. But in Slovenia, he’s something much bigger. Dončić is the greatest basketball player the country has ever produced, and his name is synonymous with the sport in his homeland.

Slovenia has long been known for its passion for basketball, but Dončić put the country on the global basketball map. He first emerged as a prodigy with Real Madrid, where he became the youngest EuroLeague MVP at just 19 years old. By the time he entered the NBA, he was already one of the most skilled young players in the world. Then, in 2021, he led Slovenia to its first-ever Olympic appearance, nearly dragging the team to a medal in one of the most remarkable international runs in recent memory. To this day, his impact on Slovenian basketball cannot be overstated.

So when the Dallas Mavericks stunned the world by trading him to the Los Angeles Lakers, it wasn’t just NBA fans who were caught off guard—it was the entire country of Slovenia.

Even Luka’s own father, Saša Dončić, had no idea the move was coming. A former professional player and coach in Slovenia, Saša played from 1993-2010, winning three Slovenian Cups and making six All-Star appearances before transitioning into coaching. He understands the business side of basketball, but even he is frustrated with how the Mavericks have handled the aftermath of the trade.

Speaking on Arena Sport Slovenia, Saša made it clear that he isn’t upset about the trade itself—he understands that teams make decisions for their future. What does bother him is how the Mavericks have leaked negative stories about Luka’s conditioning and work ethic since his departure.

“I understand there comes a moment when you disagree with a certain philosophy. You don’t like this or that player, all good, I get it. 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 went on to defend his son, pointing out that Luka played nearly 100 games last year, logging heavy minutes every night while carrying the Mavs to the NBA Finals.

“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 or three players constantly on him. That he was beaten and you say such things about him.”

Saša’s frustration isn’t with the Mavericks moving on from Luka—it’s with how they’re handling it after the fact. He believes that if Dallas wanted to trade their franchise star, they should own it instead of attempting to justify it by making excuses.

“You traded him, stand by your actions, but don’t look for excuses or alibis, that’s it.”

At the end of the day, the Mavericks’ loss is the Lakers’ gain. Dončić now has a fresh start in Los Angeles, where he will step in as the future face of the franchise. The Lakers know exactly what they’re getting—a generational talentwho can lead them into the post-LeBron James era.

And while the trade may have been shocking, one thing is clear—Slovenia will be watching every step of the way.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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