Former President Donald Trump has called the Dallas Mavericks' 2025 trade of Luka Dončić one of the worst deals in sports history. Trump made the comments at a Republican midterm convention in Dallas on Wednesday, directly criticizing the franchise's decision to send the MVP candidate to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Mavericks' current form is 2W-0D-3L in their last five games, including a 149-128 win over the Chicago Bulls on April 13, 2026.
Speaking at the American Airlines Center, Trump said he did not understand the February 2025 trade. The Mavericks sent Dončić to the Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a first-round pick. "I would say that's not going to go down as the greatest trade in the history of sports," Trump stated. "It might go down as the worst trade in the history of sports." He even suggested the team could "redo"the deal, noting he redoes deals all the time. The general manager who made the trade, Nico Harrison, was fired nine months later."What do I know about basketball?" he asked the crowd. His comments come amid the Mavericks' inconsistent recent performances. They beat the Bulls 149-128 but lost 139-120 to the San Antonio Spurs on April 11 and 112-107 to the Phoenix Suns on April 9.
The criticism touches a nerve for a franchise still dealing with the aftermath of a blockbuster move. Trading a generational talent like Dončić is a decision that defines a front office for years. The team's current results show a squad searching for consistency. Following the win over Chicago, their form reads WLLLW from most recent to oldest. They also suffered losses to the LA Clippers (116-103) and the Orlando Magic (127-138) in early April.
Trump's relationship with current Mavericks owner Miriam Adelson adds a political dimension. Adelson purchased the team from Mark Cuban in December 2023. She donated $250 million to help Trump's 2024 presidential campaign. In December 2025, she said she would donate another $250 million if he considered running for a third term in 2028. Other NBA owners like the New York Knicks' James Dolan have also backed Trump. Dolan invited Trump to an NBA Finals game in June, making him the first sitting president to attend one.
The team's on-court performance provides the immediate context. Their last five results show two wins and three losses. After the high-scoring victory against the Bulls, they dropped games to Western Conference rivals. Earlier in April, they beat the Los Angeles Lakers 134-128 but then lost to the Clippers and the Magic.
This stretch highlights the challenge of building a contender after a major roster shakeup. Fans can track the team's progress through the rest of the season on our [fixtures](/fixtures) page. Integrating new pieces and establishing a defensive identity will be key. The commentary from high-profile figures like Trump ensures the shadow of the Dončić trade will linger. For the Mavericks, the focus must remain on the current roster and improving that 2-3 record from their last five outings. Every game is a step toward defining the post-trade era in Dallas.
