It has been one month since Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison sent shockwaves through the NBA by shipping superstar Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for veteran big man Anthony Davis.
Since the trade, the Lakers have rolled to a 9-2 record and now sit third in the Western Conference, with Dončić quickly gaining chemistry with his new teammates. The Mavericks, on the other hand, have struggled to a 6-5 record post-trade, and Davis logged just 31 minutes of action before landing on the injured list.
Not surprisingly, Mavericks fans have quickly grown frustrated with the current situation, with some even creating a “Fire Nico” movement to vent their unhappiness with the trade.
Mavericks Fans Are Finding Creative Ways To Call For Nico Harrison’s Job
It isn’t just the fact that a superstar was traded in their prime. The NBA trade deadline has produced numerous superstar zip-code changes over the years.
One of the most alarming aspects of the deal was Harrison seemingly not opening negotiations across the league to get the biggest return on investment possible for Dončić, which infuriated Mavs fans.
While Davis was named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, it’s quite clear fan sentiment remains with Dončić, with tributes emerging around the city of Dallas (complete with #FireNico in the corner).
A few MFFL’s just painted this mural in Dallas to honor Luka Doncic 💙
(via velazquez_art_/IG) pic.twitter.com/l2bedep1CF
— MFFL NATION (@NationMffl) February 28, 2025
Fans have written open letters to Harrison, detailing their “rage” and “heartbreak.”
Meanwhile, fans also started a campaign to get “Fire Nico” and “Sell the Team” stickers placed all over downtown Dallas, including the Mavericks’ arena American Airlines Center.
Anyone here still attending games? I have some free stickers to hand out for Monday’s game. pic.twitter.com/NwZAR3aFR3
— The World is melting like it’s 1999💃🏼👄⚖️🕛🧨💀 (@Introspectisgon) March 1, 2025
When the deal was made, Harrison’s initial comments caused a stir among Mavericks fans because it suggested the team would be in better shape without their homegrown star.
“I understand why they would be shocked, initially,” Harrison told The Dallas Morning News. “But I do believe that we positioned ourselves to win now and also win in the future. And that’s ultimately the goal and why we’re here. It’s one of those things where it’s my job to make the tough decisions that put our goals first and foremost.”
Harrison also hinted that Dončić didn’t add to the culture, which upset fans.
“There’s people that fit the culture and there’s people that come in and add to the culture, and those are two distinct things,” Harrison said. “And I believe the people that are coming in are adding to the culture.”
Other Notable Transactions Harrison Has Made as GM
Harrison has served as the general manager of the Mavericks since June 2021.
During this time, HIS other most notable moves have been hiring head coach Jason Kidd, trading away forward Kristaps Porziņģis, acquiring star guard Kyrie Irving, and landing promising center Dereck Lively II in a draft-day deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In three full seasons at the helm, Harrison has led Dallas to two playoff appearances and one NBA Finals appearance. Two of the seasons saw the Mavericks win at least 50 games, so Harrison hasn’t been completely inept as an executive.
However, trading away Dončić has put Harrison firmly in the crosshairs of the Mavericks’ faithful. The nightly images of Davis in street clothes while Dončić elevates the Lakers haven’t helped matters, especially with Dallas struggling to win lately.
The “Fire Nico” fan movement will continue to pick up steam if the current trajectory continues.
