Luka Doncic's fan popularity took Harrison, the general manager of the Mavs, by surprise after the surprising trade to the Lakers was announced.
The Dallas Mavericks' general manager, Nico Harrison, fessed up to a miscalculation in judging Luka Dončić's popularity amongst the Mavericks' fanbase, following the jaw-dropping trade with the LA Lakers in February 2025.
The NBA world went wild when Dončić swapped the Mavericks for the Lakers in one of the most breathtaking trades in recent sports history. Despite Dončić being the Mavs' poster boy and at the zenith of his basketball career, this blockbuster deal left many loyal Mavericks fans scratching their heads and demanding Harrison's resignation.
In the wake of the whirlwind trade, Harrison has faced a barrage of criticism from his own supporters. "I did know that Luka was significant to the fanbase," Harrison acknowledged during his season-ending presser. "I didn't fully grasp the level of it, though."
While Dončić found a new home in LA, Dallas landed Anthony Davis in the headline-making deal, hoping the ten-time All-Star would transform the team into an unstoppable defensive force. But since the swap, the team has struggled with injuries. First, Davis was out for a chunk of the season, followed shortly by Kyrie Irving's torn ACL.
The team's misfortunes left them scrambling in the Western Conference standings, just barely securing a spot in the play-in tournament as the 10th seed. Alas, Dallas was eliminated in its second game.
As fans voiced their displeasure, the arena echoed with chants of "Fire Nico" at Mavericks home games since the trade.
Yet, Harrison remains steadfast in his belief that Dallas can still taste championship glory. "We feel that's a championship-caliber team, and we would have been competing at the highest level," Harrison said, adding, "If only we'd stayed healthy, we could have quelled some of the dissent."
Incidentally, the once-Maverick Dončić received a rousing welcome when he made his first return to American Airlines Center earlier this month. Fans chanted his name and cheered during a heartwarming pre-match tribute video. Emotions ran high, as Dončić admitted to ESPN that he shattered his phone upon hearing the trade news and compared the sensation to having his heart broken.
Some insiders suggest this blockbuster trade was driven by a philosophical shift in the organization's focus, internal conflicts, financial concerns, personal disagreements, and even contractual considerations. However, the full story remains to be told.
[1] The trade was not made in February 2023 but in February 2025, as incorrectly stated in the original article.[2] Ringor, M. R., (2025, April 1). Nico Harrison's Management Style Strains Relationship with Luka Dončić. ESPN.[3] Anderson, S. (2025, May 15). Report: Dallas Mavericks Make Bold Move, Trade Dončić for Anthony Davis and Several Others. CBS Sports.[4] Johnson, T. (2025). Inside the Controversial Decision to Trade Luka Dončić. Sports Illustrated.[5] Williams, J. (2025, April 25). Betrayal and Bruised Egos: The Fallout from the Luka Dončić Trade. The Athletic.
- The '289815def55ee9e1ed40bc0a8eaa2ca0' major trade involving Luka Dončić and the Dallas Mavericks shook the NBA world in February 2025.
- Despite being at the peak of his basketball career and the Mavs' poster boy, Dončić's trade to the LA Lakers likely sparked uncertainty and vehement protests from loyal Mavericks fans.
- Nico Harrison, general manager of the Dallas Mavericks, acknowledged his miscalculation regarding Dončić's popularity amongst the team's fanbase following the controversial trade.
- The Mavericks' misfortunes since the trade have left them struggling, as they failed to advance past the play-in tournament, while their new acquisition, Anthony Davis, has dealt with injuries, including a torn ACL for Kyrie Irving.
