Luka Doncic is back in Dallas at the American Airlines Center, but this time he will be in the visiting locker room after he was blindsided and traded away from the Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 2.
The Mavericks are set to host the Lakers on Wednesday, marking Doncic’s first game against his former team in Dallas. Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris were sent to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick ahead of the trade deadline. The blockbuster deal was spearheaded by Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison, who has faced the ire of the Dallas fanbase ever since.
The Mavericks have gone 12-16 since Doncic’s departure, which coincided with the injury bug hitting Dallas, including Kyrie Irving’s season-ending ACL tear on March 3. The Lakers, meanwhile, have gone 19-12 since the trade and are in third place in the Western Conference standings entering Wednesday.
Mavericks fans are still mourning and coming to terms with their franchise player being traded away, so it remains to be seen whether Harrison will receive a warm welcome or another icy reception. Based off the new protest mural that went up downtown, we are going with the latter option. (More on that later.)
Here’s what we know:
Will Nico Harrison be at Mavericks-Lakers game?
Yes, Harrison is in the building for Doncic’s return to Dallas. Harrison was spotted on the court at the American Airlines Center ahead of the matchup as both teams warmed up.
Harrison was on hand to watch the Lakers-Mavericks matchup on Feb. 25 in Los Angeles at Crypto.com Arena. Doncic recorded his 81st triple-double and his first in purple and gold — 19 points (6-of-17 FG, 1-of-7 3PT), 15 rebounds and 12 assists, in addition to three steals and two blocks — in his first game against his former team. Lakers fans chanted, ‘THANK YOU NICO!” amid the Lakers’ 107-99 win.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS fans chant ‘Thank you Nico!’ after Luka Doncic’s triple double vs. Mavericks
‘Fire Nico’ mural protest in Dallas
Fort Worth-based muralist Juan Velazquez (@velazquez_art) painted a mural that features a navy Mavericks hat with a piece of duct tape over the logo that reads, ‘FIRE NICO.’ The mural was inspired by a hat worn by fan Chris Taylor, who was one of several spectators ejected from the Mavericks’ 129-128 overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings on Feb. 11 due to violations of the NBA’s code of conduct after chanting ‘FIRE NICO,’ referring to the Mavericks’ general manager.
The tagline has become a catchphrase among Mavericks fans who remain irate at the Mavericks’ leadership — specifically Harrison, who brokered a deal with Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka to trade Doncic in exchange for Anthony Davis — and has become a symbol of resistance.
‘I think that trade deserved that kind of reaction from the fanbase,’ Taylor told local media station, NBC 5 DFW. Velazquez added, ‘We wanted to send one last message. If you are going to buy a team that is loved by the city with players that are loved by a city, that should matter. If you can’t understand that, you have no business owning a team.’
Luka Doncic tribute set for return
Although fans are furious with Harrison, they have nothing but love for Doncic. The Mavericks also are planning to show a tribute video in honor of Dončić, who became one of the league’s best players in his six-plus seasons with the team and led them to the NBA Finals last season. The Mavericks are giving every fan in attendance at the American Airlines Center a T-shirt that reads ‘thank you so much’ written in Slovenian.
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