The NBA was rocked on February 2nd. In a move no one saw coming, Luka Dončić who is the face of the Dallas Mavericks was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. And just like that, the league’s entire landscape shifted overnight.
Fans were stunned. What many assumed to be fake news turned out to be painfully real. Dončić was gone. In Dallas, protests erupted almost immediately, centering around the American Airlines Center. Chants rang out demanding the firing of Mavericks GM Nico Harrison.
And now, just as things seemed to settle, Harrison is back in headlines—this time for doubling down on his misjudgment.
Fans Are Not Happy With Nico Harrison’s Latest Comments
In a recent interview, Harrison admitted that while he knew Dončić was important but he didn’t realize just how important he was to the fanbase.
“I knew Luka was important to the Mavs fanbase… I didn’t quite know to what level,” said Harrison.
Nico Harrison on the league’s reaction to Luka being traded:
“I knew Luka was important to the Mavs fanbase… I didn’t quite know to what level.” pic.twitter.com/dk0Y6Z16Bc
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) April 21, 2025
That quote alone has lit a new fire under Mavericks supporters and not the good kind.
Dončić wasn’t just any player. He was “the player”, a generational talent who brought life back into the Mavericks franchise. Last season, he carried Dallas all the way to the NBA Finals. His departure wasn’t just a blow to the roster, it was a gut punch to the soul of the team.
Suggesting he didn’t understand the weight of that trade sounds less like strategy and more like a complete disconnect. Not knowing the consequences of letting go of a once-in-a-lifetime player raises serious doubts about Nico Harrison’s vision—or lack thereof.
“Is he stupid?” wrote one user.
Is he stupid?
— trev (@BayAreaTrev) April 21, 2025
Dončić joined the Mavericks in 2018 and hit the ground running. He was Rookie of the Year. He became the first teenager in NBA history to record 30-point triple-doubles. During his tenure with the Mavs he has averaged 28.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists in 422 games.
Giving up that kind of production? That level of potential? It screams mismanagement. Fans are claiming a fundamental lack of basketball IQ from the top of the organization.
“You gotta have the critical thinking skills of a 7-year-old to have not known that,” said another user.
You gotta have the critical thinking skills of a 7 year old to have not known that 😭
— Aidan LaPorta (@AidanLaPorta69) April 21, 2025
A general manager isn’t just there to make trades but they’re supposed to know the team. The pulse of the locker room. The values of the franchise. And most importantly, the heart of the fanbase.
To not grasp how critical Dončić was to everything the Mavericks represented is more than a misstep. Fans consider it a betrayal. Teams thrive when there’s alignment between front office decisions and community passion. This move shattered that connection.
“This alone is a fireable offense… How can the General Manager not understand his organization’s fanbase,” wrote another follower.
This alone is a fireable offense.
How can the General Manager not understand his organizations fanbase.
— Rippe🎯 (@MichaelRippe) April 21, 2025
While most fans were busy tearing into Harrison for his lack of awareness, one supporter took a more constructive route. Instead of insults, they offered a simple yet powerful suggestion that is conduct a fan survey before making any major decisions.
“Maybe next time, send a survey to your customer base?” said the user.
Maybe next time, send a survey to your customer base?
— Roy Jossfolk Jr. (@royjossfolk) April 21, 2025
Now, with the Lakers gearing up for Game 2 of the playoffs and Dallas missing the postseason entirely, the anger is boiling over. Harrison’s latest comments haven’t just reopened wounds. They’ve poured salt in them.
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Nico Harrison Believes He Shouldn’t Be Fired
The way Harrison’s recent quotes are hitting the public, many fans are hoping it’s some sort of “NBA Centel” parody post. But in reality, these bold words are coming straight from the Dallas Mavericks’ General Manager himself.
During the same interview, a reporter didn’t hold back and asked him directly that why the front office shouldn’t fire him. It was the kind of question that could catch anyone off guard — but not Harrison. The GM responded with such poise and preparation, it felt like he had been waiting for that moment.
“Well, one, I think I’ve done a really good job here, and I don’t think I can be judged by the injuries this year. You have to judge the totality from the beginning to end. So I think I’ve a really good working relationship with Patrick,” said Harrison.
Having this level of confidence, especially after being thrashed by fans on a daily basis and now even facing visible frustration from Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont, takes some serious boldness.