An exodus of frustrated Dallas Mavericks fans occurred at the American Airlines Center on Monday night, as security personnel were seen escorting several individuals out of the arena. This followed fans calling for the dismissal of general manager Nico Harrison in response to the controversial Luka Doncic trade. During the Mavericks’ narrow one-point loss to the Sacramento Kings, security removed fans who displayed “Fire Nico” signs or shouted the phrase.
In a karaoke segment featuring Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” one fan was captured on the Jumbotron mouthing “Fire Nico,” prompting the camera to quickly shift away. This same individual was later seen holding a sign with the same message, and he, along with another fan, was filmed being escorted from their seats, as shared on social media. According to reports, two additional fans were removed during the fourth quarter, with their removal met by boos from nearby spectators.
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 debated move. Fans have voiced their discontent with Harrison, who orchestrated the trade, leading to increased security measures for him ahead of the weekend’s game. The trade saw Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris move to the Lakers, while the Mavericks received Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick from Los Angeles. The Utah Jazz also participated in the deal, acquiring Jalen Hood-Schifino and two second-round picks.
However, Davis suffered a groin injury during his debut for Dallas and is expected to be out at least until after the All-Star break.