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Half a year has passed since the Dallas Mavericks made the controversial move to trade Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. Rick Welts, the Mavericks’ CEO, has recently reaffirmed the organization’s decision to let go of their star player. Moreover, he has portrayed the backlash from the fans as a positive outcome, following the trade.
“In this industry, you can’t afford to dwell on fears or regrets; it’s all about looking ahead,” Welts commented during an interview on Bloomberg TV. “The strong bond between the Mavericks fans and the team became very clear to me. I see this as half the battle won because I realized that we could rebuild that trust over time. It’s surprising how quickly things are starting to look up,” he added.
Mavericks CEO Rick Welts on if the team regrets trading Luka Dončić:
“You can’t have fears or regrets in this business, it’s all about how you move forward. …I learned about the depth of the connection between Mavericks fans and this team.” #MFFL
(: @BloombergTV) pic.twitter.com/FTbTo8jbzb
— Kevin Gray Jr. (@KevinGraySports) July 30, 2025
The intense reaction from Mavericks supporters following the Doncic trade was evident when they gathered to protest outside the American Airlines Center, voicing their displeasure over the trade of their favorite player. This reaction was far from the positive spin Welts put on the situation.
It’s also questionable whether the Mavericks have completely mended their relationship with their fans since the Doncic trade, which led to fans canceling their season tickets and a general decline in support for the franchise. While drafting Cooper Flagg brought some excitement back—thanks to the team landing the No. 1 pick in the draft, a fortunate event that could hardly be attributed to strategic planning—the relationship with fans still needs healing.
Welts also expressed pride in how the organization handled Luka’s return to the American Airlines Center as a Laker. “Watching that game, it was a chance for the fans to express their gratitude,” he said. “The emotional response from Luka and the tributes paid to him that night show his lasting impact here. We wish him all the best, even though we aim to defeat his team in every encounter.”
However, the reality depicted by Welts doesn’t fully align with the events. The return wasn’t just a fond farewell; it represented a confrontation with a player who had been unexpectedly traded despite wanting to remain with the Mavericks for his entire career. The audience’s immediate calls to “Fire Nico” and their ongoing questions about the wisdom of the trade underscored the tension. Doncic, scoring 45 points in this ‘revenge’ game, left looking like the hero, while the Mavericks appeared more as the antagonists.
Despite drafting Flagg, Welts and the Mavericks seemingly remain out of touch with their fanbase’s sentiment. They may genuinely believe that trading Doncic was the right move, but the full extent of fan sentiment seems to elude them still.
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