Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison was not sitting courtside, but that didn’t stop Luka Doncic from seeking him out a few rows deep during the Lakers’ 107-99 win Tuesday night.
After a first-quarter 3-point make from well beyond the arc, Doncic immediately turned around and stared at the Mavericks’ bench while a photo was taken of Doncic locking eyes with Harrison, who was unmistakeable while dawning a bright blue suit in a sea of purple.
Harrison, who orchestrated the trade that sent Doncic to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, has was reportedly frustrated with the Slovenian’s conditioning and his off-the-court habits.
Cold. pic.twitter.com/95JHLagUgE
— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) February 26, 2025
The incredible image of the two foes being posted on X by NBA account @bballforever_ and had 47.5 thousand likes at the time of writing.
During a trio of second-quarter Doncic free throws, the Los Angeles crowd erupted in “Thank you Nico,” chants as the TNT broadcast showed the Mavericks GM attempting to ignore the chirps.
The heckling Lakers crowd was not the first and won’t be the last time Harrison will deal with fans poking fun at him for trading their star guard.
Harrison was previously taunted at an SMU basketball game on Feb. 12, and Mavericks fans were even thrown out of home games for “Fire Nico” chants and signs.
Mavericks GM Nico Harrison watches Lakers’ Luka Doncic warm up in Los Angeles pic.twitter.com/Z1gfGnzmnP
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) February 26, 2025
ESPN Mavericks reporter Tim MacMahon said on the “Hoop Collective Podcast” Tuesday that Harrison typically sits courtside for games but he hadn’t sat there at the American Airlines Center since the trade.
“I didn’t see him in warmups,” Doncic said of his former boss, despite Harrison sitting on the scorer’s table watching him shoot around.
There was no direct interaction between the Doncic and the Mavericks front office, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
Doncic had a solid game, recording his first triple-double as a member of the Lakers, with a final line of 19 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists.