The Dallas Mavericks find themselves in a new era without Luka Dončić much sooner than anticipated, bringing unforeseen challenges.
ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reported Friday that the Mavericks are ramping up security for their upcoming game against the Houston Rockets. This game marks their first home game post-Dončić trade, a move that shocked the NBA world and left many fans outraged.
General manager Nico Harrison, the man behind the trade, has reportedly faced death threats and racial slurs in the aftermath. Consequently, he will not be in his usual seat at the game, and reports indicate that a full-time security team is now protecting his home.
The backlash is not surprising given the magnitude of the Dončić trade. It’s rare for players of his caliber and age to be traded unless they request it, and Dončić had shown a commitment to Dallas for the long term.
The Mavericks seemed aware of the potential backlash, as they reportedly only engaged with the Los Angeles Lakers in trade talks, prioritizing secrecy even if it meant settling for a smaller trade package.
Harrison defended the trade by emphasizing the importance of defense in winning championships. However, his comments on Dončić’s conditioning and contract situation only seemed to add fuel to the fire.
Interestingly, Harrison was absent from Davis’ introductory press conference with the Mavericks, a departure from his presence during Kyrie Irving’s introduction. The team also disabled comments on their YouTube stream of the Davis conference and limited comments on their Instagram page.
On the other hand, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka appeared jovial during his press conference alongside Dončić at the Lakers’ event.
Harrison has been with the Mavericks since 2021, transitioning from a long tenure at Nike to the world of NBA management.