Sasa Doncic, the father of newly arrived Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic, isn't happy about how the Dallas Mavericks unexpectedly parted ways with the perennial MVP candidate.
"I understand there comes a moment when you disagree with a certain philosophy," the elder Doncic said Sunday on Arena Sport Slovenia, as translated by the outlet. "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. Given the fact, at least as I know, (he) sacrificed himself enormously."
The six-player, three-team blockbuster - arguably the most stunning trade in NBA history - brought a sudden end to Luka's seven-and-a-half-year term in Dallas. The former third overall pick reportedly didn't request a trade and it was the Mavericks who first approached the Lakers about a potential deal.
Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison said Sunday that he only spoke with the Lakers about a possible deal involving the five-time All-NBAer in hopes of upgrading the team's defense with incoming big man Anthony Davis. Harrison said improving the team's "culture" was another factor in his decision.
However, the Mavericks executive admitted that he also wanted to get "out in front of" Doncic's looming contract negotiations; had he remained in Dallas, the 25-year-old would have been eligible to sign a five-year, $345-million supermax extension beginning next season.
That was reportedly a bitter pill to swallow for those within the organization who believed Doncic's conditioning and diet were negatively impacting his durability. Doncic hasn't played since suffering a calf strain Christmas Day against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and he hasn't played more than 70 regular-season games since his rookie year, although he's never played fewer than 61 contests (in the shortened 2019-20 campaign).
Doncic's father took issue with those unattributed complaints about his son's fitness, citing the Slovenian's workload both on and off the court, including the Mavericks' run to the 2024 Finals.
"Even all the stories now that someone is releasing that he wants to apologize for the things that they're doing, I feel like this is very unfair from some individuals because I know that Luka respected Dallas a lot. ... It was never a problem for him to go to hospitals and orphanages and to all these charity events," Sasa said.
"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, three players constantly on him, that he was beaten, and you say such things about him. I feel that this is very unfair from certain individuals. You traded him. Stand by your actions. But don't look for excuses or alibis. And that's it."
Luka is scheduled to return to Dallas in purple and gold April 9 - the Lakers' third-last game of the regular season.
