Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison may have stopped showing his face at his own team’s games, but he remains appreciated by the fans of the team he traded Luka Doncic to.
NBA general managers typically don’t evaluate their own trades based on the reactions of opposing fans, but it’s easy to wonder if Mavericks GM Nico Harrison had some second thoughts while attending his team’s first game against the star he sent to Los Angeles, Luka Doncic, on Tuesday night.
Doncic, who was vocal towards his former team after nearly every basket, wasn’t the only one expressing feelings about the trade. Good news for Harrison came from other reactions, which were largely positive. However, that positivity mostly came in the form of sarcastic, mocking thank yous from Lakers fans, grateful for the deal that many believe could go down as one of the worst trades in NBA history.
Pregame, Melissa Rohlin of Fox Sports noted that Lakers fans near the team’s tunnel were showering Harrison with cheers for providing them with a 25-year-old superstar who has reopened L.A.’s title window both now and in the future…
Lakers fans to Mavericks GM Nico Harrison as he walked through the tunnel: “Good trade, Nico! We love you, Nico!”
— Melissa Rohlin (@melissarohlin) February 26, 2025
…but the cheers didn’t stop there. Veteran NBA freelance journalist Mark Medina reported that Lakers fans continued to express gratitude as Doncic put up 12 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists in the first half:
During timeout, a handful of Laker fans are yelling out, "Thank you Nico!! Thank you Nico!!"
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) February 26, 2025
On the bright side, this warm reception contrasts sharply with the response Harrison is receiving from Mavericks fans, who have protested both outside and inside the arena, calling for him to be fired following the trade that has made him a target of fan discontent in Dallas.
However, if you make a trade that has other team’s fans treating you like a heroic figure in their home arena, you might want to consider updating your LinkedIn page. This might become necessary sooner rather than later if the Lakers and Mavs continue trending in their current paths.
