Patrick Dumont: 'Luka Is a Mav for Life' After Trade and Team Isn't Moving to Vegas
February 9, 2025
Dallas Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont expressed his support for Luka Dončić following the superstar forward's surprising trade to the Los Angeles Lakers.
"He's an electrifying player," Dumont told Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News (h/t Hoopsrumors.com). "I want you to know I really sympathize with all of our fans who feel hurt. Look, as far as I'm concerned, Luka is a Mav for life and I really wish him nothing but happiness and success in his career as he continues in LA." Dumont added:
If you look at the greats in the league, the people you and I grew up with — [Michael] Jordan, [Larry] Bird, Kobe [Bryant], Shaq [O'Neal] — they worked really hard, every day, with a singular focus to win. And if you don't have that, it doesn't work. And if you don't have that, you shouldn't be part of the Dallas Mavericks. That's who we want. I'm unwavering on this. The entire organization knows this. This is how I operate outside of basketball. This is the only way to be competitive and win. If you want to take a vacation, don't do it with us.
He also confirmed that the Mavericks aren't targeting a potential move to Las Vegas.
"The Dallas Mavericks are not moving to Las Vegas," Dumont said. "There is no question that, that is the answer unequivocally. The Dallas Mavericks are the Dallas Mavericks and they will be in Dallas."
SportsDay Mavs @dmn_mavericksMavs governor Patrick Dumont offered his first public comments after the Luka Doncic trade.<br><br>Dumont spoke of the team's "tough decisions" and the goal to win NBA championships. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MFFL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MFFL</a><br><br>Click below to hear what Dumont said and read more from <a href="https://twitter.com/townbrad?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@townbrad</a> here: <a href="https://t.co/QObN3dl1cq">https://t.co/QObN3dl1cq</a> <a href="https://t.co/r51Li4dyzL">pic.twitter.com/r51Li4dyzL</a>
Dončić was dealt to the Lakers on Feb. 2 as part of a three-team trade that also involved Anthony Davis heading to Dallas.
ESPN's Shams Charania reported that none of the players involved in the swap knew that they were attempting to be moved by their respective teams.
After the trade was completed, Dončić released a statement thanking the Mavericks' organization and fanbase.
"I thought I'd spend my career here and I wanted so badly to bring you a championship," Dončić said.
The 25-year-old's last full season in Dallas was immensely successful, averaging a league-leading 33.9 points per game during his 2023-24 campaign and helping the Mavericks make an NBA Finals appearance.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver has been open regarding expansion, bringing up Las Vegas as a potential future destination. Silver said that the city was "definitely on our list" of possible expansion destinations in Feb. 2024, via the Associated Press (h/t ESPN).
According to WFAA's Ben Sawyers, the Mavericks organization held an "internal call" on Feb. 3 addressing a hypothetical move to Las Vegas but "reiterated that there are no plans to move the team from North Texas."
As Dallas adjusts to playing without Dončić, Dumont was still respectful of his tenure with the team.
He also confirmed that relocating to Las Vegas isn't something that the Mavericks desire.
