Apr 26, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban presents a team jersey to Masters champion Jordan Spieth during the second quarter of the game between the Mavericks and the Houston Rockets in game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs. at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Masters champion Jordan Spieth doesn't understand Mavericks trading Luka Doncic

Originally posted on Dallas Mavericks on SI
By Austin Veazey | Last updated Apr 13, 2025 9:00 AM ET

There are many people who can't figure out why the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. The five-time First-Team All-NBA selection just led the Mavs to the NBA Finals last season, but Nico Harrison had it in his mind that he couldn't win with Doncic and none of the reasons he's said since the trade have made sense.

Among the many people confused is Jordan Spieth, a three-time PGA major champion, Dallas native, and noted Mavericks fan. When he won the Masters Tournament in 2015, one of his stops with his green jacket was a Mavericks game. In a recent clip with Rob Gronkowski for FanDuel Sportsbook, the two stars shared thoughts about the infamous trade.

"If you're going to pay anybody in the world in any sport, how is he not the guy to pay? It hurt," Spieth said. "As a Mavs fan, we rolled from 20 years of Dirk [Nowitzki] right into Luka. They played together for a year, and you're like, 'Good, we've got the next 20 years with Luka.' [There's] 10 different ways I can't figure it out."

Doncic recently returned to the American Airlines Center for the first time to a host of a rowdy crowd rooting more for him than the Mavericks, and he torched his former team for 45 points. "Fire Nico" chants rained down at nearly every free throw, and the big return from the trade, Anthony Davis, was noticeably quiet. That didn't help the confusion from the deal.

Spieth is currently participating in the Masters, sitting tied for 21st entering Sunday's final round at one under par, eleven strokes back of Rory McIlroy.

This article first appeared on Dallas Mavericks on SI and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: