Not even a year ago, the Los Angeles Lakers sent shockwaves throughout the NBA once again by pulling off a miracle of a blockbuster trade to acquire superstar guard Luka Dončić in a deal that involved the storied franchise sending one-time NBA champion Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a first-round draft pick to Texas.
Essentially, the deal was one superstar for another, with Dallas risking everything by taking on an aging Davis with an injury history for the face of their franchise in the post-Dirk Nowitzki era. It was a bold and perplexing move, which was risky, to say the least, especially after the Mavericks’ poor start (3-9 record) to the 2025-26 campaign and the firing of general manager Nico Harrison this week.
Lakers Superstar Luka Dončić Reacts to Mavericks Firing Nico Harrison
Although it seemed like a foregone conclusion that Harrison would eventually have to pay for deciding to trade Dončić, especially by doubling down with the statement that “defense wins championships,” the consensus seemed to be that the team’s brass would let it play out for at least one full season.
Apparently, that wasn’t the case, as only three wins to start the season proved to be the nail in the coffin for Harrison, as Dallas announced his firing on Nov. 11.
With the Mavericks moving on from Harrison only nine months after trading Dončić, the new Lakers superstar was asked about how he reacted to the news this week, via Michael Scotto of USA Today.
Luka Doncic on Nico Harrison: “Dallas, fans, players, always have a special place in my heart. I thought I was going to stay there forever but I didn’t. They’ll always be a special place for me. Always I can call it home. Right now, I’m focused on the Lakers, trying to move on.” pic.twitter.com/UOyM5oogUp
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) November 13, 2025
As Dončić has done ever since the shocking trade to the Lakers, he deflected on taking the opportunity to go in on Harrison, who didn’t hold back to take subtle shots at the perennial All-Star after the deal for being out of shape and a liability on defense.
“Dallas, fans, players, always have a special place in my heart. I thought I was going to stay there forever but I didn’t. They’ll always be a special place for me. Always I can call it home. Right now, I’m focused on the Lakers, trying to move on,” Dončić said in a rather blunt response.
Dončić has shown nothing but class while being a consummate professional during this situation, which would rock most professional athletes to their core. Even though he has expressed how devastating this trade has been to him over the last nine months, he is dedicated to the Lakers moving forward and made it clear when asked on Wednesday night whether he’d return to the Mavericks in the future now that Harrison is gone, via Scotto.
It remains to be seen what the future holds for Dončić in the NBA or overseas, as he has expressed interest in finishing his basketball career where it began with Real Madrid.
In the meantime, Dončić isn’t taking the opportunity to criticize Harrison after his firing, as he’s now on a different path, with leading the Lakers to success being his ultimate goal moving forward, which is a good sign for the Los Angeles franchise and its fans.
