President Donald Trump criticized the Dallas Mavericks' decision to trade guard Luka Dončić during a speech at the Republican midterm convention on Wednesday. Speaking at the American Airlines Center, the Mavericks' home arena, Trump said the deal might go down as the worst in sports history and suggested the team should "redo" the transaction.
The comments follow a midseason trade that occurred in February 2025. The Mavericks sent Dončić and two other players to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round draft pick. Nico Harrison, the former Mavericks general manager who orchestrated the deal, was fired nine months after it was finalized.
Trump noted that while he does not claim expertise in basketball, he frequently renegotiates deals and found the trade difficult to understand. He compared it to the 1919 trade of Babe Ruth from the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees for $100,000, which he stated remains the worst trade in sports history because Boston needed the money. During the convention speech, Trump also addressed oil production, Iran, immigration, and the economy.
The criticism involves a franchise owned primarily by the family of Miriam Adelson, a donor who contributed $250 million to Trump’s 2024 campaign. The trade moved Dončić, a perennial MVP candidate, to the Los Angeles market. Fans in Dallas have expressed criticism over the loss of the franchise’s star. Adelson has suggested she would provide another $250 million in support if Trump ran for a third term.
The remarks follow a pattern of the President using his platform to comment on sports personnel and rules, including recent comments regarding NFL draft selections and FIFA suspensions. While Trump suggested a "redo" of the Dončić deal, there is no formal mechanism for the executive branch to alter private NBA trade agreements. The Mavericks are currently focused on their upcoming season.
The Republican midterm convention continues this week in Dallas, where Trump is scheduled to meet with various candidates. The NBA season will proceed with Dončić on the Lakers roster and Davis on the Mavericks. No specific dates for further FIFA reviews or NFL policy changes mentioned in the speech were reported.