A Dallas Mavericks fan was ejected from a game this week after protesting against general manager Nico Harrison regarding the Luka Doncic trade, but minority owner Mark Cuban has since invited him back to sit courtside. Garrett Bussey and his friend Chris Taylor, both dedicated Mavericks supporters, were among the few fans removed from Monday night’s game against the Sacramento Kings after they chanted “Fire Nico” and wore shirts with the same message. In an interview, they recounted that the incident occurred during the second half while the Mavericks were shooting free throws.
“We did the ‘Fire Nico’ chant, and it was the first time we had done it all night,” Taylor explained. Security quickly intervened, escorting them out of the American Airlines Center for allegedly breaching NBA conduct rules. Taylor also mentioned that Cuban “started yelling” at him before he was removed, which heightened the situation.
In a statement, Cuban shared his perspective, noting that fans were booing during a critical moment when the Mavericks had the ball. He wanted to understand the source of the discontent and looked in the direction of the commotion. When he made eye contact with the fan, the individual began shouting at him, though Cuban could not discern the words due to the distance.
Cuban further elaborated that the fan had been vocal throughout the game, but his main concern was the booing during crucial plays when fans should have been supporting the team. Following the game, Bussey spoke with Cuban, who invited him and his 7-year-old son to sit courtside for Wednesday’s game. Bussey described this as a “step in the right direction” for a fan base grappling with the aftermath of the trade.
Doncic, who led the NBA in scoring last season and played a pivotal role in the Mavericks’ NBA Finals appearance, was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in a highly controversial move. This decision has sparked significant backlash against Harrison, prompting the organization to reportedly enhance security measures for him during recent games. At least one other fan was also ejected from Monday’s game for a similar protest.