The Dallas Mavericks will play their first home game since the organization exchanged Luka Dončić on Saturday, and managing director Nico Harrison will be on alert.
The job has taken the whole world of sport by surprise, and Mavs fans made their dissatisfaction known.
Anger is understandable. A 25 -year -old global superstar that led the NBA by scoring last year and helped the MAV to an appearance in the NBA final was exchanged.
Sign up in Tubi and Stream Super Bowl Lix for free
Dallas Mavericks goalkeeper Luka Dončić, on the bench during the second quarter against Washington Wizards at the American Airlines Center in Dallas on January 27, 2025. (Jerome Miron / Imagn images)
Demonstrations took place outside the American Airlines Center on Sunday, a group of fans even bringing a coffin to signify their dying fandom.
But other fans have apparently brought him to an unacceptable level and made death threats against Harrison.
According to ESPN, this led to Harrison’s “reinforced” security for the match on Saturday.
“It is a basis of fans with a broken heart. There have been very unhappy developments concerning this anger. Nico Harrison has been subjected to death threats. There have been racial epithets included in some of Between them.
“Nico Harrison will not be in his normal seat. There is no reason to submit it to this kind of security risk. It was an unhappy part of this story. Obviously, the anger of the fans, they have The right to feel as they have obtained a generational superstar torn from them, but certainly, lines have been crossed.
The Los Angeles Lakers goalkeeper Luka Dončić poses for photos with general manager Rob Pelinka and head coach JJ Redick at UCLA Health Training Center. (Gary A. Vasquez / Imagn Images)
How to look at the Super Bowl Lix between the chefs, Eagles broadcast on Tubi
Harrison cited defense as the main reason for trade, while noting that the risk that Dončić, eligible for a $ 345 million contract, could have left the team next year.
“We really feel like we got ahead of what was going to be a tumultuous summer, being eligible for supermax and also a year from his power with any contract,” said Harrison earlier week. “And so we really had the impression that we came out in front of this. We know teams, they got it, the teams were responsible to try to sign it once it is available.”
The Lakers acquired Dončić, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris, while the Mavericks obtained Anthony Davis, Max Christie and the choice of first round of Los Angeles in 2029. To conclude the agreement, Utah Jazz acquired Jalen Hood- Schifino and two second round choices.
In the first Mavs match without donation, they lost by more than 40 points, but neither Kyrie Irving nor Davis played.
Luka Dončić of Los Angeles Lakers speaks at an introductory press conference on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, in El Segundo, California. (Ap photo / Jae C. Hong)
Dallas will host the Houston Rockets at 3 p.m. HE Saturday.
