Dallas Mavericks is playing their first home game since the organization traded Luka Dončić on Saturday and general manager Nico Harrison will be on duty.
The deal surprised the whole sports world and Mavs fans have made their dissatisfaction known.
The anger is understandable. A 25-year-old global superstar who led the NBA to score last year and helped Mavs to an NBA final performance was traded away.
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Dallas Maverick’s guard Luka Dončić on the bench in the second quarter against Washington Wizards at the American Airlines Center in Dallas 27 January 2025. (Jerome Miron/Imag- Pictures)
Protests took place outside the American Airlines Center on Sunday, where a group of fans even brought a coffin to denote their fandom dying.
But other fans have apparently led it to an unacceptable level and have made death threats against Harrison.
According to ESPN, it has led to “increased” security for Harrison for Saturday’s game.
“This is a heart bridge fanbase. There has been a very unfortunate development regarding this anger. Nico Harrison has been exposed to death threats. There have been the racemites included in some of them. Certainly there will be increased security. Will be protests outside the arena, “Tim McMahon said Friday.
“Nico Harrison won’t be in his normal seat. There’s no need to expose him to that kind of security risk. It’s been an unfortunate part of this story. Obviously, the fans’ anger they have all the right to feel they got A generation superstar torn away from them but has definitely been crossed lines.
Los Angeles Lakers -vagt Luka Dončić poses for photos with General Manager Rob Pelinka and head coach JJ Redick at UCLA Health Training Center. (Gary A. Vasquez/Imag- Pictures)
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Harrison cited defense as a primary cause of trade, while also noticing the risk Dončić who was eligible for a $ 345 million contract could have left the team next year.
“We really want us to get ahead of what would be a turmoil summer where he was eligible for Supermax and also a year away from him who could opt out of any contract,” Harrison said earlier this week. “And then we really felt that we were coming out in front of it. We know team, they’ve had it out there, teams have loaded to try to sign him when it comes available.”
Lakers acquired Dončić, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris, while Mavericks got Anthony Davis, Max Christie and Los Angeles’ 2029 first round. To finish the deal, Utah Jazz acquired Jalen Hood-Schifino and two choices of the second round.
In Mavs’ first match without Dončić, they lost by over 40 points, but neither Kyrie Irving nor Davis played.
Los Angeles Lakers’ Luka Dončić speaks during an initial press conference on Tuesday, February 4, 2025 in El Segundo, California. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Dallas hosts Houston Rockets at. 15 a Saturday.
