Lakers fans wasted no time rubbing salt in the wounds of the Dallas Mavericks and their general manager, Nico Harrison, during Luka Doncic’s first game against his former team. In a move that has been widely criticized as one of the worst trades in NBA history, the Mavericks sent their 25-year-old franchise superstar to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for a package centered around Anthony Davis.
Loud “Thank you, Nico!” chants while Luka Dončić shoots free throws. pic.twitter.com/qaI0x8ct8J
— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) February 26, 2025
Tuesday night marked Doncic’s highly anticipated revenge game, and the Lakers faithful made sure Harrison felt the full brunt of their gratitude.
As Doncic stepped to the free-throw line in the second quarter, Crypto.com Arena erupted with chants of “Thank you, Nico!” The sarcastic taunt was a clear jab at the Mavericks’ front office, which has faced relentless backlash for trading away a generational talent. Doncic, who has thrived since arriving in Los Angeles, responded by sinking all three free throws and flashing a knowing smirk.
“Thank you, Nico” chants break out at @cryptocomarena 😅#LakeShow pic.twitter.com/a9rZZWBFAv
— ESPN Los Angeles (@ESPNLosAngeles) February 26, 2025
This was far from the only time the Lakers crowd made their feelings known. As Harrison made his way through the tunnel at halftime, fans once again serenaded him with “Good trade, Nico! We love you, Nico!”—a level of mockery that encapsulated just how one-sided this deal appears to be.
On the other side, Mavericks fans are in turmoil. Protests erupted outside the American Airlines Center after the trade, with angry supporters demanding answers from Harrison and team governor Patrick Dumont. The situation has grown so toxic that the franchise has reportedly been ejecting fans from home games for vocally criticizing the front office’s decision to part ways with Doncic.
For his part, Doncic wasted no time making a statement on the court. From the opening tip, he played with an undeniable edge, repeatedly looking toward the Mavericks’ bench after big plays.
In one moment during the first quarter, he drained a deep three-pointer over Kyrie Irving and turned toward Dallas’ sideline, muttering something under his breath—likely directed at the executives who doubted his conditioning and work ethic.
Luka Doncic stared down the mavs bench after hitting a 3 😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/kVzvUtDn7R
— Shannonnn sharpes Burner (PARODY Account) (@shannonsharpeee) February 26, 2025
By the end of the third quarter, Doncic was flirting with a triple-double, posting 17 points, 15 rebounds, nine assists, three steals, and two blocks in just 28 minutes. His dominance only reinforced the growing belief that Dallas made a catastrophic mistake, but the Mavericks were hanging on 78-77, trailing the Lakers by just one point.
The Lakers, now 8-2 since acquiring Doncic, have seamlessly integrated him into their system alongside LeBron James. Meanwhile, the Mavericks have struggled with injuries, and Anthony Davis’ early success was cut short by a month-long injury absence. Dallas fans, once hopeful that the team had secured a better future, are now left questioning the direction of the franchise.
The “Thank you, Nico!” chants will likely follow Harrison for the rest of the season—and perhaps his entire tenure in Dallas. While time will ultimately determine whether the trade was truly as disastrous as it seems, one thing is clear: Lakers fans believe they won the deal, and they’re not about to let anyone forget it.
Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We really appreciate your s support.
