Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones shared a personal moment during a press conference ahead of the NFL Draft—revealing that his wife, Gene Jones, was heartbroken when Luka Doncic was traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers in February.
The unexpected trade, carried out by Mavs GM Nico Harrison, drew major backlash from fans, and Gene was among those hit hardest. “She cried,” Jones admitted. “She’s all-in on the Mavericks and has been for years. Luka was like family.”
Gene Jones, a former high school basketball standout, has long been a devoted fan of the Mavs. “She scored 17 straight free throws in a state championship game—basketball is in her soul,” Jerry said.
Jones reflected on the emotional weight of the trade and added that he now better understands how deeply connected fans felt to Doncic. “He wasn’t just a star player—he was part of the community.”
Since the trade, fans have been vocal, even chanting “Fire Nico” at games. Harrison recently admitted he misjudged just how loved Doncic was in Dallas. “I knew he meant a lot,” Harrison said, “but I didn’t realize how much.”
Meanwhile, Luka Doncic is thriving with the Lakers, who are in the middle of a playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Dallas, on the other hand, didn’t make it past the play-in tournament.