Lakers Crowd offers Luka Doncic and Mavs fans welcome to object to trade

Yes, it was a tale of two arenas on Monday night, when visceral reactions to the Blockbuster trade that shook the NBA a week ago, were clear in Los Angeles and Dallas.

Lakers fans were looking forward to Luka Doncic’s debut at Crypto.com Arena, Donning Team-Issued No. 77 Jerseys and Song “Luu-Ka” At every occasion during a win over Utah Jazz.

Meanwhile at the American Airlines Center, Maverick’s fans were closed down and exposed because they opposed the trade with Doncic to LA by hoisting signs and loudly calling for firing of general manager Nico Harrison during a loss of overtime for Sacramento Kings.

Harrison has been exposed to intense resentment from fans since trading in the hugely talented and popular Doncic to Lakers for the hugely talented but often wounded Big Man Anthony Davis. It certainly didn’t help the mood in Texas when Davis left his Mavericks debut on Saturday with an adductor injury after dominating 26 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists in 31 minutes. Davis is expected to be sidelined for a month.

A thousand or so humans, some wearing “four nico” t-shirts, protested outside the arena before this game. Ire escalated Monday night, where the amount booing every time a fan was led from their seats to the exit for having violated NBA behavior code.

Two fans held up “Fire Nico” signsand That one was seen with the same words on the video screens before being thrown out. Later in the game, two men were shown the door after a profan shouting match with Mark Cuban, the long -standing Mavericks owner sitting near the team bench.

“In the first incident, the guest brought in a sign that broke the following rule included in the NBA behavior code: clothing, clothing or signs showing explicit language, gang or derogatory characterization to any person (s),” Maverick’s spokesman Erin Finegold said in A statement.

“In the second event, the tab had a T-shirt that also broke the (same) rule and was also intoxicated, disruptive and not cooperative, all listed in the NBA fan-behavioral code,” the statement continued.

Cuban that sold 69% of the team To Casino -Magnates Miriam Adelson and Patrick Dumont in 2023 told ESPN Fans shouted, “Fire Nico” While Mavericks shot free kick and again late in the game. Cuban said he did not connect until the fans shouted at him.

Harrison was not seen in his usual seat in the lower bowl of the arena, but Dumont was booed when he returned to his court seat in the third quarter. Mavericks players on their side took the fan reaction in stride.

“That’s it Not our job to be emptied because people are upset”Telled Klay Thompson to journalists. “Our job is to convince them that there are really good days to come, not only for this year, but for the next few years.

“People want to say things, and that’s understandable. I was a fan I’m still a fan. If I did not agree with a trade, I would probably also express my opinion. It’s the beauty of sport. You go there to shout and be rambunctious sometimes. “

Kyrie Irving referred to Mavericks fans experiencing a grief process after the sudden departure of Doncic, a five-time all-NBA guard and centerpiece of the franchise.

“To see the emotions coming out over basketball, it just shows that basketball is not just a game for certain people,” Irving said. “It’s a spiritual experience. It’s a plug and they see their favorite players and they’ll see them forever. So I run to the side of understanding where people come from. “

Meanwhile there were no such explanations of Crypto.com Arena, where even Mavericks -legend Dirk Nowitzki appeared to support DoncicThere was a shower with cheer despite finishing only 14 points, five rebounds and four assists in a shortened 24 minutes. Serbian music was played during first -name warms and LeBron James graciously allowed his new teammate to be introduced last When starting lineups were announced.

“Special,” Doncic said of the moment. “The way they received me, all, it was amazing to see. I was a little nervous before. I can’t remember the last time I was nervous before the game. But when I stepped on the field, it was fun. And just being out there felt amazing again. “