Don Nelson Honors Friendship with Luka Doncic by Sporting His Signature Shoes in Bold Protest Against Controversial Trade

Don Nelson has officially been named the recipient of the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award for 2025.

In a conversation with Marc Stein, he disclosed his plan to don Luka Doncic’s signature sneakers as a way to protest the midseason trade that sent the Slovenian star from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers.

“Luka is a close friend of mine,” he shared. “I intend to wear his new shoes. I felt it was important to say that.”

At 85 years old, Nelson previously held the position of general manager for the Mavericks from 1997 to 2005 and also served as the head coach for the team. His son, Donnie Nelson, succeeded him as GM and was instrumental in drafting Doncic with the third overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.

“I’ve always believed that if you possess a great player, they should be part of your team for life. You don’t trade away exceptional talent. When I learned of this trade, I felt quite let down,” he expressed regarding the Mavericks’ decision about Doncic.

Scheduled to receive his honor prior to Game 2 of the NBA Finals, presented by YouTube TV, Nelson will wear a pair of Luka 4 sneakers. The NBA Sundays matchup will feature the Oklahoma City Thunder against the Indiana Pacers at Paycom Center, with the Pacers currently leading the best-of-seven series 1-0.

Doncic, aged 26, was traded to the Lakers in early February during his seventh NBA season, just months after guiding the Mavericks to the 2024 Finals.