Trump Critiques Luka Dončić Trade During Speech in Dallas

President Donald Trump spoke at the American Airlines Center in Dallas on September 10, 2026, where he addressed various topics including Iran, immigration, oil prices, the economy, and the upcoming midterm elections. During his nearly two-hour speech at the Republican midterm convention, Trump commented on the February 2025 trade that sent Luka Dončić from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis and other assets. Trump stated, "I must tell you, I don’t understand the trade. That trade is not good," and suggested it might be one of the worst trades in sports history. He acknowledged that the Doncic-Davis trade was shocking, especially since it occurred shortly after Doncic led the Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals. The Mavericks received Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick in the deal. Trump also mentioned the secrecy surrounding the trade negotiations and noted that the Mavericks won the NBA Draft Lottery that year, selecting Cooper Flagg first overall. He concluded his remarks on the trade by saying, "Maybe we could redo that trade. I redo deals all the time. ... I understand deals. But that one, I didn’t quite get." After this commentary, Trump returned to discussing oil and Iran.