Charles Barkley Slams Nico Harrison for Trading Luka Dončić, Calls It the ‘Worst Decision Ever,’ Says Luka Was the Next Dirk Nowitzki but Could Become the Lakers’ Jerry West
NBA Hall of Famer and outspoken analyst Charles Barkley has never been shy about calling out front-office mistakes, and this time, his target is Dallas Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison. In a fiery rant following Luka Dončić’s dominant performance against the Mavericks as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, Barkley labeled the trade as “the worst decision ever.”
Barkley on Luka vs. Dwight Powell: ‘Who Trades a Player to Do Triple on Them?’
Barkley was quick to point out the absurdity of trading away a superstar only to see him thrive elsewhere. “Let me get this straight—y’all let Luka Dončić go, and now he’s over there dropping triple-doubles on you? Whose bright idea was this? Who trades a player just to watch him torch their team? That’s just bad business.”
He went on to compare Dončić’s performance to Mavericks big man Dwight Powell, who remains in Dallas. “Even Luka had a better game than Dwight Powell, and he doesn’t even play center! What does that tell you?”
‘Luka Is the Prototype of Dirk Nowitzki’
Barkley also likened Dončić to Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki, stating that he was supposed to carry on the franchise’s legacy. “Luka was the prototype of Dirk Nowitzki! He was meant to be the face of the Mavericks for years to come, just like Dirk was. You had your next generational guy, and you threw him away. That’s not just a mistake—that’s a disaster.”
‘Luka Might Be the Jerry West of the Lakers’
With Dončić now shining in Los Angeles, Barkley believes that he could establish himself as one of the Lakers’ all-time greats. “The way Luka is playing right now, he might be the Jerry West of the Lakers. Mark my words, if he stays there long enough, we’ll be talking about him in the same breath as Kobe, Magic, and Shaq. That’s how special he is.”
Barkley Calls for Accountability
Barkley ended his tirade by placing the blame squarely on Nico Harrison. “Dallas fans should be furious. Hold Nico Harrison accountable for this mess. He sat there and let this happen. He believed all that nonsense about Luka being lazy and not playing defense. That’s just ridiculous.”
The Mavericks, now struggling to find a new direction without Dončić, are feeling the weight of what could be remembered as one of the worst trades in NBA history. Meanwhile, Luka is thriving in Los Angeles, proving Barkley’s words true with every game he plays.
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