The Dallas Mavericks will play their first residence recreation because the group traded Luka Dončić Saturday, and common supervisor Nico Harrison shall be on alert.
The commerce took the whole sports activities world abruptly, and Mavs followers have made their displeasure identified.
The anger is comprehensible. A 25-year-old world celebrity who led the NBA in scoring final yr and helped the Mavs to an NBA Finals look was traded away.
SIGN UP FOR TUBI AND STREAM SUPER BOWL LIX FOR FREE
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Dončić on the bench throughout the second quarter in opposition to the Washington Wizards on the American Airways Heart in Dallas Jan. 27, 2025. (Jerome Miron/Imagn Photos)
Protests happened outdoors American Airways Heart Sunday, with one group of followers even bringing a casket to suggest their fandom dying.
However different followers have apparently taken it to an unacceptable degree and have made demise threats in opposition to Harrison.
In response to ESPN, that has led to “beefed up” safety for Harrison for Saturday’s recreation.
“It is a heartbroken fan base. There have been some very unlucky developments relating to that anger. Nico Harrison has been subjected to demise threats. There have been racial epithets included in a few of these. Actually, safety goes to be beefed up. There shall be protests outdoors the sector,” Tim McMahon mentioned on Friday.
“Nico Harrison shouldn’t be going to be in his regular seat. There is not any motive to topic him to that sort of safety threat. That has been an unlucky a part of this storyline. Clearly, the followers’ anger, they’ve each proper to really feel like they obtained a generational celebrity ripped away from them, however, definitely, traces have been crossed.”
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Dončić poses for photographs with common supervisor Rob Pelinka and head coach JJ Redick at UCLA Well being Coaching Heart. (Gary A. Vasquez/Imagn Photos)
HOW TO WATCH SUPER BOWL LIX BETWEEN CHIEFS, EAGLES STREAMED ON TUBI
Harrison cited protection as a main motive for the commerce, whereas additionally noting the chance Dončić, eligible for a $345 million contract, may have left the workforce subsequent yr.
“We actually really feel like we obtained forward of what was going to be a tumultuous summer time, him being eligible for the supermax and in addition a yr away from him with the ability to decide out of any contract,” Harrison mentioned earlier this week. “And so we actually felt like we obtained out in entrance of that. We all know groups, they’ve had it on the market, groups have been loading as much as attempt to signal him as soon as that comes obtainable.”
The Lakers acquired Dončić, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris, whereas the Mavericks obtained Anthony Davis, Max Christie and Los Angeles’ 2029 first-round decide. To finish the deal, the Utah Jazz acquired Jalen Hood-Schifino and two second-round picks.
Within the Mavs’ first recreation with out Dončić, they misplaced by over 40 factors, however neither Kyrie Irving nor Davis performed.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ Luka Dončić speaks throughout an introductory press convention Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in El Segundo, Calif. (AP Picture/Jae C. Hong)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Dallas will host the Houston Rockets at 3 p.m. ET Saturday.
Observe Fox Information Digital’s sports activities protection on X, and subscribe to the Fox Information Sports activities Huddle publication.