Nico Harrison can’t escape the shadow of the Luka Doncic trade. That much became clear when a viral video surfaced this week of the Dallas Mavericks general manager being heckled by an angry fan at Twin Peaks.
In the clip, a Mavericks supporter approached Harrison with a smile, shook his hand, and then dropped the line that sent social media buzzing:
“Nico, Nico, what’s up man, good to meet you. We all still f***ing hate you, all right, good. Good talk brother.”
Mavericks fans pulled up on Nico Harrison at Twin Peaks
(h/t @NotJackKemp) pic.twitter.com/VLM29fmXrU
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 31, 2025
The exchange was short, but it summed up the mood that has defined Mavericks fandom since February, when the franchise stunned the NBA by trading away Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. For many Dallas fans, Harrison is the face of that decision, the man who orchestrated the deal and effectively closed the chapter on a superstar who had carried the team’s identity since 2018.
Doncic wasn’t just a franchise cornerstone, he was a generational player who made Dallas nationally relevant every night. His departure left fans furious, and Harrison became the lightning rod. “Fire Nico” chants became a staple at American Airlines Center home games, drowning out timeouts and in-game promotions.
Online, the criticism was even harsher, with Harrison’s name trending repeatedly in connection with the trade.
For Dallas supporters, it wasn’t just losing Doncic. It was losing him to a glamour franchise like the Lakers, where he now pairs with LeBron James in a storyline that feels like salt in the wound. Harrison’s concerns over Doncic’s conditioning, defense, and long-term durability never softened the blow.
If there’s one thing that’s kept Harrison from being completely buried under public anger, it’s the stroke of luck in May’s NBA Draft Lottery. The Mavericks landed the No. 1 overall pick and used it to select Cooper Flagg, a teenager widely regarded as the best American prospect since LeBron. Flagg immediately became the new face of the franchise and gave Harrison a chance to reshape the narrative.
Now, the Mavericks are built around Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving (once healthy), and Flagg, with a supporting cast designed to contend right away. It’s a roster that has the potential to silence the criticism, if it wins.
The viral Twin Peaks video is a reminder that Mavericks fans are not ready to forgive. Harrison may be building something strong for the future, but to this fan base, Luka Doncic was the one who wasn’t supposed to leave.
For Harrison, the path forward is simple: win. If Flagg blossoms into the superstar everyone projects, and if Dallas makes a deep playoff run, history might begin to soften. Championships have a way of rewriting reputations.
But until then, every beer, every handshake, and every public appearance in Dallas could come with the same reminder that echoed at Twin Peaks.
