Luka Dončić’s father, Sasa Dončić, expressed dissatisfaction regarding the Dallas Mavericks’ handling of his son’s trade to the Los Angeles Lakers. During a Slovenian broadcast of the Mavericks' matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Sasa lamented the lack of communication from the Mavericks, stating, 'I think that exactly this secrecy—or should I say from some individuals, maybe even hypocrisy—this hurts me personally.' He emphasized that Luka 'absolutely doesn't deserve this' and felt that the situation was unfair given Luka's respect for Dallas and his charitable contributions to the city.

Sasa further elaborated on the challenges faced by Luka in the previous season, noting that comments made about his son’s fitness were unjustified. He pointed out Luka’s extensive playing time, mentioning that Luka played nearly 100 games and often under significant defensive pressure. Sasa rejected the notion that Luka's performance warranted criticism, challenging the Mavericks' decision to trade him without addressing these issues directly.

As discussions surrounding Luka Dončić’s future unfolded, reports indicated that the Mavericks were concerned about his conditioning and hinted that they were unsure about offering him a supermax contract worth $345 million. Mavericks General Manager, Nico Harrison, commented on the decision to prioritize a smooth transition, stating, 'I feel like we got out in front of what could have been a tumultuous summer.' The approach taken by the Mavericks involved selecting the trade that Luka preferred instead of engaging in a bidding war, leading to feelings of betrayal among those close to Luka and the fan base that had supported him enthusiastically.