BREAKING NEWS: Dallas Mavericks Ex-Celtics NBA Champion blames Mark Cuban for Luka Doncic’s conditioning ….. … veiw more

Breaking news: surrounding the fallout after the blockbuster trade of Luka Dončić — and how a former NBA champion is laying the blame squarely on Mark Cuban’s shoulders

Luka Dončić, the former Dallas Mavericks superstar, was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers on February 1–2, 2025, in a historic deal sending him to L.A. in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round draft pick—a midseason swap involving two reigning All‑NBA players

• The trade sent shockwaves across the NBA, with widespread criticism of Dallas’ management, especially general manager Nico Harrison and governor Patrick Dumont, for their public remarks about confusion over Dončić’s conditioning and culture fit

Former NBA Champion Points Fingers: Ex‑Celtic Steps In

• A former NBA champion and ex‑Celtics player (not named in reports) has entered the fray, publicly blaming Mark Cuban for the Mavericks’ failure to keep Dončić in shape—and ultimately for letting him be traded.
  • He specifically accused Cuban of neglecting the team’s conditioning culture, implying that if Cuban had prioritized Luka’s fitness and properly instilled discipline, the superstar might never have been on the trading block.

The Conditioning Controversy

• Dallas management, including GM Nico Harrison, repeatedly cited concerns over Dončić’s weight, diet, and conditioning, suggesting these factors led to his calf injuries and limited availability .
• A widely‑shared quote from Harrison: “defense wins championships,” extended to comments about Luka’s work ethic and character

What Mark Cuban Says

Despite being buyer of a majority stake in late 2023, Cuban remained a minority owner and claimed no control over basketball decisions  He has responded with:

1. “If I had any influence, that trade never happens.” He suggested the Mavericks should’ve acquired four unprotected picks, along with AD and Max Christie
2. Denying involvement while conceding he was blindsided—urging GM Harrison not to trade Luka, but it was too late .
3. Lamenting that the trade’s return—AD, Christie, and one future pick—was disappointingly light .

Fan & Media Backlash

• Dallas fans erupted—organizing protests, chanting “Fire Nico,” even bringing a coffin to the arena, while posters lamented
• Analysts like Bill Simmons criticized Cuban, arguing he should’ve vetted the new owners better when deciding to sell
• On Reddit, users reaffirmed:
  

  “By the time Cuban found out … Cuban urged Harrison not to go ahead with the swap … only to find out that the deal had already been sealed”
  “For starters, it wasn’t Cuban … confirmed … he wasn’t involved in the call”

Why This Matters

• This saga touches several critical issues:
  1. Organizational culture: Conditioning and discipline expectations.
  2. Old vs new ownership vision: Cuban’s oversight vs the Adelson‑Dumont/Harrison regime.
  3. Fan faith: Dallas supporters see Dončić as the franchise’s soul—his departure left a void.
• With the Mavs 10th or 11th in the Western Conference, missing the playoffs, and dealing with injuries post‑trade, the long-term consequences are already taking shape

 In summary…

A former NBA champion has blamed Mark Cuban for failing to instill a strong conditioning culture that could have kept Luka Dončić healthy and loyal to Dallas. Cuban, in turn, acknowledges he had no say in the trade—but insists that under his watch, it wouldn’t have happened, and that if he had influence, the Mavericks would’ve gotten a much better