Monta Ellis, once the face of the Golden State Warriors, is drawing parallels between his trade in 2012 and Luka Doncic’s stunning departure from the Dallas Mavericks earlier this year.
Speaking on the Out The Mud podcast, Ellis reflected on how his exit from Golden State wasn’t just a basketball transaction — it was an emotional gut punch.
“They took the biggest risk of their life,” Ellis said, via HoopsHype, referencing the Warriors choosing Stephen Curry over him.
He explained that although the organization gave him his first opportunity, the way the trade unfolded left lasting scars. “That’s the part of the business you don’t understand unless you’ve lived it,” Ellis said.
Doncic’s situation, Ellis believes, followed a similar trajectory. On February 2, the Mavericks traded their franchise cornerstone to the Los Angeles Lakers in a blockbuster midseason deal.
Dallas sent Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris to L.A. in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick. The trade blindsided the Slovenian superstar, who was informed only after it was finalized, according to Mavericks GM Nico Harrison.
Ellis empathized with the emotional fallout of being cast aside despite years of commitment. “Now I’m expendable because it ain’t a bigger contract,” Ellis noted of his 2012 trade to Milwaukee.
Golden State had built around Ellis before pivoting to Curry, a move initially criticized but later validated by championship success. Similarly, the Mavericks justified their trade by citing defense and long-term flexibility.
Still, the backlash was swift, especially as Doncic remained one of the league’s elite playmakers.
Ellis, now retired, holds no resentment toward the Warriors, saying he still appreciates what they did for him and his family. “Golden State will always be in my heart,” he said.
