Dallas Mavericks fans are in mourning following the franchise’s decision to trade superstar guard Luka Doncic.
Overnight, the Mavericks agreed to send Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in a three-way deal that also involved the Utah Jazz. Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris are LA-bound, with the Lakers sending back 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick. The deal came out of nowhere and sent shockwaves throughout the NBA.
The Mavericks have their reasons for making the trade, some of which general manager Nico Harrison outlined this afternoon. However, none of them are satisfactory enough for a large group of fans who are fuming at the decision to deal a 25-year-old in his prime less than a year after he led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals.
While Dallas is playing–and getting its doors blown off– in Cleveland Sunday afternoon, a group of fans have gathered outside the team’s home arena for an impromptu protest.
Included in that bunch are three young fans who dressed in suits and ties and brought a makeshift coffin to hold a “funeral” for the franchise.
Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News shared a clip of the “funeral” on X/Twitter, complete with “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth playing the background.
For real. This happened.
Three dudes brought a coffin to American Airlines Center. They’re playing “See You Again.”
“Rest in peace to the Mavs.” pic.twitter.com/0Ndv26vGyb
— Shawn McFarland (@McFarland_Shawn) February 2, 2025
If Mavericks fans were already fuming, general manager Nico Harrison’s press conference–in which he admitted that Doncic never gave any indication he wasn’t going to re-sign with the franchise and that the Lakers were the only team he approached about a trade–probably only made them angrier.
“I understand why they would be shocked, initially,” Harrison told The Dallas Morning News earlier today. “But I do believe that we positioned ourselves to win now and also win in the future. And that’s ultimately the goal and why we’re here. It’s one of those things where it’s my job to make the tough decisions that put our goals first and foremost.”
Just what those goals are one has to wonder at this point.
Related: Nico Harrison Makes Two Shocking Admissions At Sunday Press Conference