Fans at the American Airlines Center made their feelings clear during Luka Dončić’s return to Dallas, expressing love for him while still holding the Dallas Mavericks general manager, Nico Harrison, accountable for trading him to the Los Angeles Lakers. Doris Burke, on ESPN’s broadcast, highlighted the ongoing frustration among the crowd.
Dončić’s emotional comeback was heightened by his performance, scoring 31 points in the first half with six three-pointers, alongside three rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Chants of “Fire Nico” echoed through the arena, indicating the deep-rooted discontent. Late in the second quarter, ESPN announcers commented on the charged atmosphere.
“Doris, the more he scores, you get the Mavs fans a little less than cheering,” Mike Breen remarked. Burke responded, “It’s a fanbase that feels cheated. He expected — and I think he feels like he was stabbed in the back because of the way it was done… It is so atypical in the modern NBA to have a trade that doesn’t leak out early. You can feel it in this arena, the love they’ve got for this guy.”
“It’s a fanbase that feels cheated. He expected and I think he feels like was stabbed in the back because of the way it was done…You can feel it in this arena, the love they’ve got for this guy.”
Doris Burke on Luka Dončić as Mavericks fans chant “FIRE NICO.” pic.twitter.com/ZAzfpLigsE
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 10, 2025
Burke’s insights are poignant. Despite Dončić’s immense talent, he is not the first NBA star to be traded, yet most recent trades have come with extensive speculation. When ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the Dončić trade, many suspected foul play; Charania himself briefly thought something was amiss.
As the camera focused on Harrison, Breen commented, “He’s taken a huge risk. And we don’t know how this long-term is gonna work out. But initially, at least for this year, and you can’t grade a trade until it goes for a few years, this year, it’s been a disaster for the Mavericks.”
“He’s taken a huge risk. And we don’t know how this long-term is gonna work out. But initially, at least for this year…it’s been a disaster for the Mavericks.”
Mike Breen on Nico Harrison and the Luka Dončić trade. pic.twitter.com/pItLnIic7g
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 10, 2025
The challenge with this trade lies in its significant immediate expectations. Some analysts even suggested that it would benefit Dallas in the short term more than it would Los Angeles, but this outcome has not materialized. With Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving both being 33 and injury-prone, alongside the initial struggles observed, the prospects for the Mavericks appear bleak. If their troubles persist, frustrations among the fans will inevitably rise.
