The Dallas Mavericks “mutually agreed to part ways” with general manager Donnie Nelson earlier this week.
Nelson was best known for putting together the 2011 Dirk Nowitzki-led championship team and his subsequent decision to draft Luka Doncic.
Nelson and Doncic were known to have a particularly tight bond.
On Thursday, Doncic finally spoke out about the Mavericks’ big switch-up – and he didn’t sound happy about it.
“It was kind of tough to me,” he said, per Marc Stein of the New York Post.
“I really like Donnie. I know him since I was a kid and he was the one that drafted me. It was tough for me seeing that, but I’m not the one making decisions there.”
Nelson’s ouster comes on the heels of a salacious report from earlier this week regarding his fading voice in the front office, and the quiet emergence of Haralabos Voulgaris as the “shadow GM.”
Doncic’s opinion of Voulgaris is a matter of public record at this point.
What makes things interesting now is that Doncic is eligible for a rookie contract extension that could be worth approximately $200 million over five seasons.
According to ESPN’s Marc J. Spears, however, “there’s no talks right now” regarding a new deal.
At this point, it genuinely feels like Doncic’s frustration with the Mavericks is at an all-time high. In addition to getting bounced from the playoffs by the LA Clippers for the second consecutive year, the 22-year-old is also having some issues with teammates that have yet to be resolved. That coupled with at least one player currently on the roster being vocally outspoken regarding how Dallas plays too much through Doncic could be a recipe for disaster.
The Mavericks have a generational talent in Doncic. They should be doing everything imaginable to keep him happy. Thus far – they seem to be failing.
Yikes Adrien Broner https://t.co/6PvzjfA3yH
— Game 7 (@game7__) June 14, 2021
Related: Andre Drummond Signals Lakers Exit With IG Post (Photos)
A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.
