Mavericks GM Nico Harrison faces death threats and racist remarks after trading Luka Dončić to the Lakers. Security measures are increasing as Dallas prepares for its first home game without Dončić.
Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison has received death threats and racist messages after the team traded Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers last Saturday.
ESPN’s Tim MacMahon shared the news on NBA Today on Friday.
Tim MacMahon:
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) February 7, 2025
"Nico Harrison has been subjected to death threats…security is going to be beefed up. There will be protests outside. Lines have been crossed.” 😳
(h/t @ohnohedidnt24)
pic.twitter.com/AkCFVihuI4
“This is a heartbroken fanbase, and there have been some very unfortunate developments regarding that anger,” MacMahon said.
“Nico Harrison has been subjected to death threats. There have been racial epithets included in some of those. Certainly, security’s going to be beefed up. There will be protests outside the arena early. Those are planned. Security will absolutely be beefed up. Nico Harrison is not going to be in his normal seat in the stands. There’s no reason to subject him to that kind of a security risk.
“So that has been definitely an unfortunate part of this whole storyline. Obviously, the fans’ anger—hey, they have every right to feel like they got a generational superstar ripped away from them—but clearly, lines have been crossed.”
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The Mavericks have been on the road for three games since the trade. Their first home game without Dončić will be on Saturday when they host the Houston Rockets at 3 p.m. ET.
MacMahon’s report came a day after TNT Sports sideline reporter Allie LaForce addressed safety concerns during a break in the Mavericks’ 127-120 win over the Boston Celtics.
"One big concern, though, is just the safety of the (Mavericks) players and the front office going back to Dallas. We hope fans make the wise decision and remember that this is a game and that lives are far more important." – Allie LaForce #NBA pic.twitter.com/O28x06QHZG
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 7, 2025
“One big concern though is the safety of the players, the front office, going back to Dallas,” LaForce said. “We hope fans make the wise decision and remember that this is a game and lives are far more important.”
Before that, LaForce mentioned that Mavs head coach Jason Kidd believes Anthony Davis, the key player Dallas received in the trade, is ready to take on this challenge.
The threats and racist remarks toward Harrison are unacceptable.
Fans are upset after losing Dončić, a five-time All-NBA first-team player who just led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals. It was one of the most shocking trades in sports history. However, some fans have gone too far, making security a major concern for Harrison and the team’s return to Dallas.
Also Read: Brandon Ingram Traded to Raptors: Winners and Losers of the Pelicans-Raptors Deal