Members of the Lakers, who now work with Dončić daily, have been impressed by his professionalism and approach. Sources say his work habits are consistent with what he did in Dallas. He continues to lean on his personal performance team on game days, practice days, and off days. Nothing is different except the jersey.
Source: Dallas Hoops Journal
Source: Dallas Hoops Journal
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
I think that was… the third-best Kawhi playoff game?
Below Game 1 vs. Philly and Game 6 vs. Luka, but above any of the Finals games or the Bucks games? That seem fair? I’m not sure what to do with Game 7 vs. Philly. He shot 16-of-39 but by that game’s standards… – 12:43 AM
I think that was… the third-best Kawhi playoff game?
Below Game 1 vs. Philly and Game 6 vs. Luka, but above any of the Finals games or the Bucks games? That seem fair? I’m not sure what to do with Game 7 vs. Philly. He shot 16-of-39 but by that game’s standards… – 12:43 AM
NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
“Luka … I’m gonna say it to your face. It’s time for you to stand on bidness.” 😅
@KendrickPerkins discusses Luka Doncic’s performance thus far in the playoffs. pic.x.com/bAx8Nu5Umh – 8:31 PM
“Luka … I’m gonna say it to your face. It’s time for you to stand on bidness.” 😅
@KendrickPerkins discusses Luka Doncic’s performance thus far in the playoffs. pic.x.com/bAx8Nu5Umh – 8:31 PM
Christian Clark @cclark_13
Nico Harrison admitted he underestimated the connection between the Mavericks fan base and Luka Dončić.
“I did know that Luka was important to the fan base. I didn’t quite know to what level.” nytimes.com/athletic/62968… – 5:18 PM
Nico Harrison admitted he underestimated the connection between the Mavericks fan base and Luka Dončić.
“I did know that Luka was important to the fan base. I didn’t quite know to what level.” nytimes.com/athletic/62968… – 5:18 PM
Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
Luka trying for consecutive halfcourt makes… AK pic.x.com/NMc33VFi7E – 3:49 PM
Luka trying for consecutive halfcourt makes… AK pic.x.com/NMc33VFi7E – 3:49 PM
Mike Curtis @MikeACurtis2
Nico Harrison said he was not told by #Mavs governor Patrick Dumont that he had to trade Luka Doncic:
“Not at all. Patrick reminds me of the leadership that I had at Nike and a really good leader doesn’t tell the people that work for him what to do. It’s a collective, well – 3:40 PM
Nico Harrison said he was not told by #Mavs governor Patrick Dumont that he had to trade Luka Doncic:
“Not at all. Patrick reminds me of the leadership that I had at Nike and a really good leader doesn’t tell the people that work for him what to do. It’s a collective, well – 3:40 PM
Emiliano Carchia @Sportando
Nico Harrison: “I Didn’t Realize Just How Much Luka Doncic Meant to Mavs Fans” sportando.basketball/en/nico-harris… – 3:05 PM
Nico Harrison: “I Didn’t Realize Just How Much Luka Doncic Meant to Mavs Fans” sportando.basketball/en/nico-harris… – 3:05 PM
Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
“I did know Luka was important to the fanbase. I didn’t quite know to what level”
HOW CAN THIS BE POSSIBLE?!?!?
pic.x.com/128nbZB0bQ – 2:53 PM
“I did know Luka was important to the fanbase. I didn’t quite know to what level”
HOW CAN THIS BE POSSIBLE?!?!?
pic.x.com/128nbZB0bQ – 2:53 PM
Jorge Sierra @hoopshype
Nico Harrison: “I think I’ve done a really good job here. We’ve had a lot of injuries… You’ll see next year we’ll be competing for a championship… I did know Luka was important to the fan base. I didn’t know quite to this level.” pic.x.com/hZbr1zFFPb – 2:40 PM
Nico Harrison: “I think I’ve done a really good job here. We’ve had a lot of injuries… You’ll see next year we’ll be competing for a championship… I did know Luka was important to the fan base. I didn’t know quite to this level.” pic.x.com/hZbr1zFFPb – 2:40 PM
Mike Vorkunov @MikeVorkunov
Nico Harrison on belief Mavs didn’t get enough for Luka:
“If you don’t value AD as an All-NBA player, an All-Defensive player, then you’re not going to like the trade. We targeted AD, but if you don’t like him, then there’s nothing else we get that’s going to make you excited.” – 2:30 PM
Nico Harrison on belief Mavs didn’t get enough for Luka:
“If you don’t value AD as an All-NBA player, an All-Defensive player, then you’re not going to like the trade. We targeted AD, but if you don’t like him, then there’s nothing else we get that’s going to make you excited.” – 2:30 PM
Mike Curtis @MikeACurtis2
Nico Harrison on why the Mavs couldn’t get more assets from the Lakers in the Luka Doncic trade:
“I think the biggest thing is if you don’t value AD as an All-NBA player and All-Defensive player, then you’re not going to like the trade.” – 2:25 PM
Nico Harrison on why the Mavs couldn’t get more assets from the Lakers in the Luka Doncic trade:
“I think the biggest thing is if you don’t value AD as an All-NBA player and All-Defensive player, then you’re not going to like the trade.” – 2:25 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
40-point playoff games by an active player:
29 — LeBron
14 — KD
11 — Harden
8 — Book, Jimmy, Luka, Giannis, Steph pic.x.com/T3XgqVQ4ur – 10:59 AM
40-point playoff games by an active player:
29 — LeBron
14 — KD
11 — Harden
8 — Book, Jimmy, Luka, Giannis, Steph pic.x.com/T3XgqVQ4ur – 10:59 AM
StatMuse @statmuse
Playoff leaders:
PTS — Luka
REB — Tatum
AST — Jokic, Cade, Tyrese
STL — Jimmy, OG
BLK — Turner
FGM — Giannis, Paolo
3PM — White pic.x.com/LOKG5opj2L – 10:36 AM
Playoff leaders:
PTS — Luka
REB — Tatum
AST — Jokic, Cade, Tyrese
STL — Jimmy, OG
BLK — Turner
FGM — Giannis, Paolo
3PM — White pic.x.com/LOKG5opj2L – 10:36 AM
Tim MacMahon @espn_macmahon
Mavs GM Nico Harrison says it’s “kind of a joke” to bring up the firing of Casey Smith.
What about Dirk Nowitzki’s disengagement from Mavs, friction with Luka Doncic’s camp, and discord inside Dallas’ staff during this disastrous, injury-ravaged season?
espn.com/nba/story/_/id… – 9:04 AM
Mavs GM Nico Harrison says it’s “kind of a joke” to bring up the firing of Casey Smith.
What about Dirk Nowitzki’s disengagement from Mavs, friction with Luka Doncic’s camp, and discord inside Dallas’ staff during this disastrous, injury-ravaged season?
espn.com/nba/story/_/id… – 9:04 AM
Brad Townsend @townbrad
Uncompromising Nico Harrison has tall task of guiding Mavs past cloud of Luka Doncic deal dallasnews.com/sports/maveric… – 8:02 AM
Uncompromising Nico Harrison has tall task of guiding Mavs past cloud of Luka Doncic deal dallasnews.com/sports/maveric… – 8:02 AM
More on this storyline
Some of the intel from the Harrison-led basketball operations department featured a belief from the Mavericks’ medical team that Dončić should have returned from the calf strain within three weeks, clearly marking a disagreement on the severity of the injury. Sources long indicated that Dončić long targeted a return on Feb. 8 against the Houston Rockets, as DallasHoopsJournal.com previously reported. Dončić’s return to competition was slightly delayed due to being traded, but he made his Lakers debut on Feb. 10 against the Utah Jazz. -via Dallas Hoops Journal / April 22, 2025
This occurred before Harrison initiated trade talks for Dončić at his coffee meeting with Pelinka in Dallas before the Mavericks faced the Lakers on Jan. 7. As one might expect, that interaction involving Dončić and Dumont did not go well. Weeks later, Dončić was traded, with a heavy run of media leaks emphasizing conditioning to follow. -via Dallas Hoops Journal / April 22, 2025
The NBA averaged 18,147 in attendance this past season, its second-best ever following a 2023-24 season that set benchmarks in every attendance category. For the second time in league history, total regular-season attendance exceeded 22.3 million fans and regular-season average attendance exceeded 18,100 (the other instances were both during the 2023-24 regular season), NBA arenas filled to a 97% capacity for the third time ever. Additionally, nearly two-thirds of regular-season games were sold out and 10 teams sold out every game. The Heat and the Mavericks — which had the second-highest attendance leaguewide despite trading Luka Doncic — have the longest sellout streaks in the league, having sold out all of their home games for 13 consecutive seasons (minus pandemic-impacted seasons). The Celtics, the Warriors and the 76ers have sold out every game since the 2021-22 season. -via Sports Business Journal / April 22, 2025