Doncic: GM Nelson's exit was tough for me

The recent departure of longtime Dallas Mavericks general manager and president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson hit a soft spot for Luka Doncic.

Nelson scouted Doncic and was very influential in the Mavs' decision to trade up for the ex-Real Madrid star in the draft.

"It was kind of tough to me. I really like Donnie. I know him since I was a kid, and he was the one that drafted me," Doncic told reporters Thursday at a Slovenian national team press conference, according to Marc Stein of the New York Times. "It was tough for me seeing that, but I'm not the one making decisions there."

Dallas' decision to part ways with Nelson comes a few days after a report indicated a power struggle within the organization.

Haralabos "Bob" Voulgaris, a former sports gambler who now serves as the Mavs' director of quantitative research and development, has reportedly become an influential part of the team's personnel decisions.

Doncic apparently doesn't see eye to eye with Voulgaris but still intends to sign a super-max contract extension with the club this offseason, sources told The Athletic's Tim Cato and Sam Amick.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has denied the report regarding Voulgaris, whose contract is said to be expiring this summer.