Dallas Mavericks fans are in open revolt against the franchise following the stunning trade of Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The backlash has been intense, with fans demanding the firing of general manager Nico Harrison for trading the 25-year-old superstar less than a season after he led the Mavericks to their first NBA Finals appearance. Protests have erupted outside American Airlines Center, and several fans have been ejected from games for expressing their outrage.
Critics point to Harrison’s decision to negotiate exclusively with the Lakers, potentially missing out on better offers from other teams. The situation has worsened as Anthony Davis, the centerpiece of the return package, suffered a left adductor strain in his Mavericks debut and is expected to miss at least two more weeks.
Dallas Mavericks CEO: I ‘underestimated the reaction’ of Luka Doncic trade
Mavericks CEO Rick Welts recently addressed the fallout in an interview with The Dallas Morning News, admitting he was caught off guard by the intensity of fan reaction.
“I thought I’d seen everything in my 47 years in the NBA, but clearly this was different,” Welts said. “I think a lot of people of good intent tried to do the right thing.”
Welts emphasized that the organization is doing its best to manage the situation.
“I probably underestimated the reaction. We’ve done the best we can, basically, with the staff and trying to do the right thing with everybody who touches the Mavericks,” he said.
Despite the current turmoil, Welts maintains optimism about the franchise’s future.
“It’s incredibly emotional, an incredibly difficult time for so many people,” he explained. “But I still believe we’re going to come out on the other side, with a future that’s incredibly bright. That’s kind of my glass-half-full approach there.”
The Mavericks currently sit eighth in the Western Conference with a 30-26 record. The drama will reach its peak when Doncic returns to Dallas wearing Lakers purple and gold on April 9.
Related: Where do the Dallas Mavericks land in our latest NBA power rankings?
