The Luka Doncic trade has sent shockwaves through the NBA, but nowhere has it been felt more than in Dallas, where fans are still mourning the sudden departure of their franchise cornerstone. While social media has been flooded with outrage, one fan took it to another level—marching to City Hall in Irving to protest what he deemed a betrayal of the city and its basketball legacy.
In an impassioned speech, the fan stood before the council and laid out his grievances.
“About three weeks ago, the citizens of Dallas were absolutely betrayed. What happened? Our franchise player, Luka Doncic—who is beloved by the city, absolutely beloved—was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. We now have the information to piece it all together.”
“The Adelson family, the new owners of the Dallas Mavericks, purchased the team as well as a plot of land where the Cowboys’ stadium used to be in the city of Irving.”
“They acquired this land with the intention of opening a large casino and potentially a new Dallas Mavericks arena. However, over the past couple of years, the state of Texas has lagged in passing a bill to legalize gambling.”
“So what did the Adelson family do? They traded away Luka Doncic. Why? This was a show of power. They wanted to demonstrate to this city and our state that they mean business and are willing to do whatever it takes to get their way.”
“According to the Dallas Morning News, the Adelson family has spent at least $14 million in political donations lobbying to legalize gambling in this state.”
“As representatives of this city, your job is to look after the best interests of your citizens. All the city cares about is economic impact—money, money, money.”
“But what about the moral impact? Did you consider that? What about when people become degenerate gamblers? When families go broke? When crime and drugs infest our city? When people develop mental illnesses due to gambling addiction?”
“When you introduce gambling to our city, these are the consequences that will follow. The billionaires won’t care because the money will be flowing into their pockets. They don’t care at all. It’s going to be on our hands.”
“So the question is: Is the Adelson family lobbying with the council members of Irving? This is a question we must ask. Did they promise to fund any city council members’ campaigns? Why are they in such a rush to get this process moving?”
“What’s funny is that they are actually advocating for the citizens of Texas to be involved in the state’s decision to legalize gambling, yet they want to rush this City Council vote without giving the citizens of Irving a chance to research and understand what’s happening.”
“They don’t want to move to Vegas. They want to bring Vegas here. The Adelson family has robbed us of a sports legend, and now they want to rob our city of its dignity. Let’s make the right decision and send the Las Vegas scams all the way back to the desert.”
“He was supposed to have a statue.”
Bro went to City Hall to complain about the Luka trade 😭🔥 pic.twitter.com/fYlM8NZ0cz
— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) March 15, 2025
His theory? The trade wasn’t just about basketball. Instead, he claimed it was part of a calculated business move by the Mavericks’ new owners, the Adelson family, who reportedly have significant interests in bringing legalized gambling to Texas.
The fan alleged that trading Doncic was a way for ownership to pressure state lawmakers to fast-track casino legalization—a wild conspiracy that, while unproven, has gained traction among devastated Mavs fans.
The protest, which has since gone viral, epitomizes the emotional state of Mavericks fans. The trade not only sent away their most beloved player since Dirk Nowitzki but also left the team in a precarious situation.
Despite the backlash, Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont defended the trade in a recent press conference. The Mavericks’ new-look roster features Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, Anthony Davis, and a center rotation of Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively.
While talented, the team has been plagued by injuries since the trade, fueling further discontent. Irving is out for the season with a torn ACL, while Davis, Gafford, and Lively have all missed time.
Beyond the City Hall protest, the frustration in Dallas has erupted in multiple ways. Mavericks GM Nico Harrison was recently caught hiding in a tunnel at a home game, seemingly avoiding the wrath of furious fans.
During a road game in Los Angeles, Lakers fans mockingly chanted “Thank You!” at Harrison for what they viewed as a one-sided trade that gifted them Doncic. Even Spurs fans, traditionally Mavericks rivals, joined in booing Harrison, highlighting just how controversial the trade has been.
At a recent home game, tensions escalated when two Mavericks fans were ejected for holding up “Fire Nico” signs. Meanwhile, Mark Cuban, the former owner who once vowed never to trade Doncic, was seen engaging in a heated argument with fans, further fueling the feeling of betrayal among the Dallas faithful.
Though Cuban no longer has full control of the team, his silence on the move has been deafening, leaving fans without answers and only more questions about the franchise’s future.
Mavericks fans now face an uncertain future. The front office insists that the trade was necessary for long-term success, but unless Dallas can win a championship in the next few seasons, this move will go down as one of the most controversial in NBA history.
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