In one of the most shocking turns in NBA history, Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison has firmly stood by his decision to trade Luka Doncic, telling CBS News Texas’ Briauna Brown in a private interview:
“There’s no regrets on the trade. Part of it is doing the best thing for the Mavs.”
The sit-down was Harrison’s first public statement since the blockbuster deal sent Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, and while cameras and recording devices weren’t permitted, the fallout from his words has only intensified the storm surrounding the Mavericks franchise.
Harrison’s comments, bold and defiant, come amid a full-blown crisis in Dallas. The backlash to the trade has been swift and emotional. Fans have protested outside the American Airlines Center, holding up signs pleading for Luka’s return. “Fire Nico” chants have become routine at home games.
Social media remains a warzone of furious Mavs faithful questioning the logic behind trading arguably the greatest player in franchise history—someone who was not only a perennial MVP candidate but also the face of the team and the city.
The trade itself, sending Doncic to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a future draft pick, was controversial from the moment it was leaked. Most baffling to observers was how Dallas failed to land Austin Reaves as part of the return.
Davis, while a proven All-Star and elite defender, is 31 years old, injury-prone, and already went down with an injury in his Mavericks debut. Things only got worse when Kyrie Irving, who was meant to form a deadly duo with Davis and a young supporting cast, tore his ACL weeks later.
Within 30 days of the trade, the Mavericks went from fringe contenders to a team fighting just to stay in the play-in picture.
Meanwhile, Luka Doncic is thriving in Los Angeles. His chemistry with LeBron James has been electric, and the Lakers have surged to the third seed in the West. Doncic leads the league in scoring and has become a fan favorite.
Every highlight, every win, and every smile from Doncic in the purple and gold is a dagger to the hearts of Mavs fans still reeling from the front office’s decision.
Financially, the Mavericks are projected to lose hundreds of millions in revenue over the next few years, as ticket sales, merchandise, and television ratings plummet in the wake of Luka’s departure. Season ticket renewals are down.
Jersey sales have cratered. The team’s brand, once seen as one of the league’s most stable and promising, is now engulfed in chaos.
And yet, Harrison insists there are no regrets.
It’s a stance that requires either immense conviction or stunning denial. Perhaps both. Whether it was internal tension, a miscalculation of long-term strategy, or simply a gamble gone wrong, the decision to trade Luka Doncic will go down as one of the most polarizing in NBA history.
For now, Nico Harrison is standing by it. But the court of public opinion, and maybe eventually the ownership group, may not be so forgiving.
