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On the eve of Luka Dončić’s Lakers debut, more than 1,400 miles away, his former franchise was still grappling with the fallout from the decision to trade him.
And in weird ways.
Multiple fans were ejected from American Airlines Center during the Mavericks’ 129–128 loss to the Kings for criticizing general manager Nico Harrison. Afterward, head coach Jason Kidd did not hold a postgame press conference, which is required by NBA rules. Not doing so is rare in professional sports, and something that might happen in an emergency situation—not over fan jeering.
The Mavericks did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the ejections and whether there was reason for Kidd not speaking with the media.
The incident somewhat mirrors a 2019 incident when Knicks owner Jim Dolan got a fan tossed for telling him to sell the team.
Monday was the Mavericks’ second home game since trading Dončić after beating the Rockets on Saturday. Anthony Davis, the key return in the Dončić trade, made his Mavericks debut and played a brilliant first half before straining his left adductor, which will sideline him for up to a month. Before Saturday’s game, fans protested the trade by driving a truck that said “Fire Nico” around the team’s arena and chanting “sell the team.” Days earlier, fans carried a coffin through the streets around the arena in a mock funeral of Dončić’s Mavericks career.
Harrison did not attend Saturday’s game, but was in the building for Monday’s game. He didn’t sit in his usual seat, according to multiple reports. The Mavericks executive has come under harsh criticism in light of his decision to trade Dončić, who is considered a generational talent and who led the team to the 2024 NBA Finals as a 25-year-old.
Longtime ESPN reporter Tim MacMahon, who has covered the Mavericks for decades, reported that Harrison has received death threats, leading to increased security around the team and its arena. The Dallas Police Department told independent reporter Grant Afseth the department wasn’t aware of any credible threats to his life.
Monday’s game was also the first time since the Feb. 2 trade that fans were shown on the jumbotron, and fans used it to air their grievances. Two people were booted for holding signs that said “Fire Nico” and mouthed the same words into the camera.
“In the first incident, the guest brought in a sign that broke the following rule included in the NBA Code of Conduct: Clothing, garments or signs displaying explicit language, profanity or derogatory characterization towards any person(s),” the Mavericks said in a statement.
Two more fans were ejected late in the game after getting in a shouting match with Mark Cuban, according to ESPN, who sold his majority stake in the Mavericks to the Adelson family in late 2023. Cuban still owns less than 30% of the team and was in his regular baseline seat. Fans about 20 rows above Cuban were shouting “fire Nico” at the Mavericks while players were shooting free throws and again during a possession late in regulation of a close game, he told ESPN.
“Shut the f— up and sit the f— down!” Cuban yelled, according to fan footage reviewed by ESPN.
Patrick Dumont (son-in-law of majority owner Miriam Adelson) was also at Monday’s game and sat in his courtside seat, which drew boos from fans. Dumont recently defended the trade, while Cuban mocked it.
Cuban told ESPN he didn’t curse until the fans directed their jeers at him, but he didn’t hear what they were saying at that point.
“In the second incident, the fan wore a T-shirt that also broke the rule above and was also intoxicated, disruptive and uncooperative, all listed in the NBA Fan Code of Conduct,” the Mavericks statement said.
Mavericks players said after the game they were unaware of fan ejections during the game, but understand why they’re upset, and aren’t fazed by the behavior.
“I mean, people are going to say stuff, and that’s understandable,” Klay Thompson told reporters. “I was a fan, still a fan. If I didn’t agree with a trade, I’d probably voice my opinion too. That’s the beauty of sports. You go there to yell and be rambunctious sometimes.”
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