DALLAS — Dallas Mavericks fans still aren’t moving past management’s decision to trade one of the most gifted offensive players in NBA history.
Nearly nine months after Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison traded Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas fans continue to call for his job.
Late in the fourth quarter of the Mavericks’ 117-107 loss to the Washington Wizards on Friday, the American Airlines Center crowd broke out in a “Fire Nico” chant.
A small section of the American Airlines Crowd chanted “Fire Nico” on Wednesday during the Mavericks’ loss to the San Antonio Spurs. The crowd’s calls for Harrison’s job Friday were significantly louder.
Mavericks fall to 0-2. They lose to Wizards 117-107. More brutal offense. 21 turnovers. Shot 10 of 34 from 3. “Fire Nico” chants near the end. pic.twitter.com/Ndx6NdnN7O
— Christian Clark (@christianpclark) October 25, 2025
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd asked for fans’ patience, while acknowledging that fans “have a right to vent.”
“This is a different team. This is a new team. We are just getting to understand each other. We will keep learning each other. I would say be patient. But I understand the frustration,” Kidd said. “We all want to win. We all want to compete at a high level. This is a game of expression. Fans have a right to express themselves. That doesn’t stop us from coming to work tomorrow and getting better and getting ready for Sunday.”
Dončić, meanwhile, scored 49 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and handed out eight assists to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 128-110 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. He became the first Lakers player to score at least 40 points in the first two games of a season.
The Mavericks entered Friday’s game as heavy favorites against the Wizards, who finished 18-64 last season. Dallas took a 14-point lead late in the first quarter but was outscored 89-72 over the final three quarters. Dallas’ lack of ballhandling and shaky outside shooting were problems in a second straight game. The Mavericks committed 21 turnovers and shot 10-of-34 from 3.
Kidd has opted not to start a traditional point guard in either of Dallas’ first two games. D’Angelo Russell, who signed with the Mavericks in free agency last summer, came off the bench. He scored one point and had three assists in nine minutes. Ryan Nembhard, a rookie on a two-way contract, has played more minutes than Russell in the first two games.
“For D-Lo, he had good looks that just didn’t go down,” Kidd said. “But everyone is going to get another crack at it Sunday.”
Cooper Flagg, P.J. Washington and Anthony Davis combined for 18 turnovers. Flagg, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, scored 11 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter. He connected on a 3-pointer with four minutes remaining, which cut Washington’s lead to six. But on Dallas’ next two possessions, Flagg turned the ball over, which contributed to Washington earning its first win of the season.
“It just came down to a lot of turnovers,” Flagg said. “Silly turnovers we shouldn’t have thrown. We have to take care of the ball. That just led to a lot of transition (chances) guys got.”
The loss dropped the Mavericks to 0-2. They next play Sunday against the Toronto Raptors at home.