**Dirk Nowitzki Opens Up About Luka Dončić Trade: ‘This Trade Really Hurt’**
In the world of professional basketball, trades are a part of the game. They are often seen as business decisions—moves made to better a team’s future, balance its roster, or increase its chances at a championship. But for players, coaches, and fans alike, trades can sometimes feel deeply personal. One of the most significant trades in recent memory is the Dallas Mavericks’ decision to trade up to draft Luka Dončić in the 2018 NBA Draft. While the move has paid off in ways that few could have anticipated, it’s also stirred up complex emotions for some of the Mavericks’ greatest players—none more notably than Dirk Nowitzki.
Nowitzki, the iconic German forward who is arguably the best player to ever wear a Mavericks uniform, has a special connection to the team and the city of Dallas. His loyalty, work ethic, and success during his illustrious 21-year career with the Mavericks earned him a legendary status. As a 14-time NBA All-Star and the 2011 NBA Finals MVP, Nowitzki led the Mavericks to their first and only NBA championship. His contribution to the franchise went beyond just basketball—he helped establish the Mavericks as a perennial contender and built a bridge between Europe and the NBA. But when the trade for Luka Dončić occurred, Nowitzki’s emotions ran deep.
In a recent interview, Nowitzki opened up about the trade that brought Dončić to Dallas and how it left him feeling conflicted. “This trade really hurt,” Nowitzki said, admitting that he had mixed feelings when the Mavericks made the decision to acquire Dončić in exchange for the pick that eventually became Trae Young, who was then traded to the Atlanta Hawks. While Nowitzki is known for his professionalism and commitment to the team, it was clear that this trade represented a significant emotional crossroads for him.
Nowitzki had always been the cornerstone of the Mavericks’ franchise. He had been the one to carry the team through highs and lows, and his departure from the game after the 2018-2019 season left a void in both the roster and the heart of the organization. Nowitzki’s transition from player to mentor, a role he has taken on since retiring, also meant watching from the sidelines as the Mavericks began their new era. The arrival of Dončić, a young, dynamic European talent with the potential to be the face of the NBA, was undoubtedly exciting for the Mavericks. But for Nowitzki, it was a bittersweet moment.
**The Mavs’ Difficult Decision: Trading for Luka Dončić**
To understand Nowitzki’s feelings about the trade, it’s important to revisit the decision-making process behind the Mavericks’ move to acquire Luka Dončić. The 2018 NBA Draft featured two of the most talked-about prospects in years: Luka Dončić, the Slovenian wunderkind who had already achieved massive success in Europe with Real Madrid, and Trae Young, a sensational point guard out of the University of Oklahoma who had an incredible scoring and playmaking ability.
The Mavericks held the fifth overall pick in the 2018 Draft, but they also had their eye on Dončić, who was regarded by many as the top player available. The Atlanta Hawks, who owned the third overall pick, were reportedly enamored with Young and believed they had found the next great point guard. In a calculated move, the Mavericks struck a trade with the Hawks to swap their pick for the third overall selection, securing Dončić in the process.
At the time, the trade seemed like a win for both sides. The Hawks had secured their point guard of the future, and the Mavericks, with their veteran star Dirk Nowitzki still on the roster, added the highly touted Dončić, who had already demonstrated his ability to perform at the highest level in Europe. The immediate reaction was one of excitement. Dončić’s resume spoke for itself: a EuroLeague title, multiple EuroLeague MVP awards, and a deep knowledge of the game at a young age. For Mavericks fans, the future appeared incredibly bright.
However, Nowitzki’s perspective on the trade was different. He had spent his entire career as the cornerstone of the Mavericks, and he knew how difficult it would be to step away from the spotlight. While he was a fan of Dončić’s game and potential, there was an undeniable feeling of sadness that came with the thought of the team moving forward without him as its leader. Nowitzki had become synonymous with the Mavericks, and as he watched Dončić arrive in Dallas, he had to come to terms with his own transition away from the game.
**Dirk Nowitzki’s Mixed Emotions**
In the interview where Nowitzki discussed the trade, he reflected on the emotions he felt at the time. “I knew the team was looking ahead,” he said. “I knew the Mavericks needed to rebuild and create a new foundation, and I understood that they were bringing in a player who could be the future. But it’s tough when you’ve been the face of the franchise for so long and you see that change happening right before your eyes.”
For Nowitzki, the decision to bring in Dončić wasn’t just about basketball—it was about his legacy. He had been the one to guide the Mavericks through the best and worst of times, and it was difficult for him to imagine the team without him at the center of it. Nowitzki’s relationship with the Mavericks organization had been a deeply personal one, and although he knew that Dončić was the future, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of loss. He was passing the torch, but that process was far from easy.
Despite the initial pain of the trade, Nowitzki quickly recognized the brilliance of Dončić’s game. “Luka is a special player,” Nowitzki said. “There’s no doubt about that. I’ve watched him grow over the last few years, and I think he has the potential to do things that we haven’t seen in this franchise before. The way he plays the game with such confidence, his skill set, his ability to control the floor—it’s something that I didn’t even expect from him as early as he’s done it.”
Nowitzki’s admiration for Dončić speaks to his genuine respect for the young star’s game. Nowitzki’s role in the Mavericks’ success in the early 2000s and during their championship run in 2011 was unparalleled. But watching Dončić take over the team with his own flair and style has allowed Nowitzki to embrace the transition more than he initially thought possible.
**Dončić’s Impact on the Mavericks**
From the moment Luka Dončić stepped onto the floor for the Mavericks, it became clear that the franchise was entering a new era. His rookie season was nothing short of spectacular, earning him NBA Rookie of the Year honors and establishing him as one of the league’s brightest young stars. Dončić’s scoring ability, playmaking skills, and basketball IQ made him an instant fan favorite, and his clutch performances in big games only added to his growing legend.
In many ways, Dončić’s arrival marked the end of an era for the Mavericks, but it also served as a new beginning. While the team still honored Nowitzki’s legacy, the focus of the franchise shifted squarely onto Dončić. With him leading the charge, the Mavericks made several playoff appearances, and they began to show promise as a team capable of competing for championships in the future. For the first time in a long while, the Mavericks had a player who was already considered among the league’s best.
But Nowitzki’s legacy remained, and he was able to mentor Dončić as he navigated the early years of his career. Nowitzki has spoken in interviews about his willingness to help Dončić in any way he can, whether through advice, workouts, or simply offering moral support. Nowitzki has been a fixture at Mavericks games, cheering on his young successor and offering guidance from the sidelines.
**The End of an Era: A New Beginning**
Nowitzki’s journey with the Mavericks will always be intertwined with the franchise’s history. He single-handedly carried the team to its only NBA championship in 2011, and his legacy will forever be enshrined in the rafters of the American Airlines Center. But with the arrival of Luka Dončić, the Mavericks are looking forward to a bright new future. The torch has been passed, and although Nowitzki will never truly be replaced in Dallas, Dončić represents the next great chapter in the team’s story.
Dirk Nowitzki’s statement that “this trade really hurt” is a poignant reminder of the emotional complexity of the game of basketball. Trades may be business decisions, but for players like Nowitzki, they represent much more. They mark the end of one era and the beginning of another. While the pain of the trade may have initially stung, Nowitzki’s embrace of Dončić and his development as a mentor to the young star has allowed the Mavericks to continue their legacy of greatness.
In the end, Nowitzki’s feelings of hurt are not just about the trade itself—they are about the emotional ties that come with being a part of a team for so long. But as the Mavericks continue to build around Dončić, one thing is clear: Nowitzki’s legacy will live on in the franchise, and Luka Dončić is carrying it forward in a way that promises to bring more championships to Dallas in the years to come. The trade may have hurt, but it also paved the way for something greater.
