Tensions continue to mount for the Dallas Mavericks in the post-Luka Doncic era.
Fans are reeling from the organization’s stunning decision to send Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. If they weren’t angry enough, Anthony Davis is expected to miss multiple weeks after re-aggravating an adductor injury in his Dallas debut.
On Monday night, the Mavericks lost 129-128 to the Sacramento Kings in overtime. Just as much drama unfolded off the court.
According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, multiple fans were ejected for violating the league’s code of conduct policy. Two allegedly got into a shouting match with Mark Cuban.
Per footage a fan allegedly sent ESPN, Cuban yelled, “Shut the f— up and sit the f— down!” at two men heckling the home team.
Cuban told MacMahon that those fans expressed their frustrations toward general manager Nico Harrison by yelling “Fire Nico!” as the Mavericks shot free throws. The team’s former majority owner, who sold shares to the Dumont family last season, said he didn’t swear at them until they yelled at him.
Mavericks Vice President of Corporate Communications Erin Finegold said one ejected fan was “intoxicated, disruptive, and uncooperative.”
A fan on social media said he was one of the attendees Cuban shouted at. He also claimed to have “4 1/2 minutes of being harassed and threatened by security and Dallas PD.”
After the trade, Cuban received backlash from fans who apparently didn’t realize he’s no longer in charge. According to insider Marc Stein, the Shark Tank panelist “urged” Harrison not to trade Doncic, but Harrison had already reached a verbal agreement with Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka.
Speaking with Bill Gates at a recent tech event, Cuban compared the situation to Steve Ballmer trading Windows 11 for Windows 10, Microsoft’s older operation system.
According to MacMahon, the Mavericks said fans violated NBA conduct rules by displaying “Fire Nico!” signs. One was removed from the arena after mouthing that suggestion while shown on the stadium’s jumbotron.
Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd did not conduct a post-game press conference, but Kyrie Irving said passionate fans have “graduated from hate to anger to the cycle of emotions” when calling to “give everybody grace.”
Related: Mavericks General Manager Getting Ripped After Anthony Davis Injury