Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison has reportedly been receiving death threats ahead of the NBA team’s first home game since trading star point guard Luka Dončić.
“This is a heartbroken franchise, and there have been some very unfortunate developments regarding that anger,” ESPN reporter Tim MacMahon said while appearing on the networkon Friday, Feb. 7.
“Nico Harrison has been subjected to death threats. There have been racial epitaphs included in some of those,” he continued before adding, “There will be protests outside the arena, that is planned. Security will certainly be beefed up. Nico Harrison is not going to be in his normal seat in the stands. There’s no reason to subject him to that kind of security risk.”
PEOPLE reached out to the Dallas Mavericks PR team for further details on Saturday, Feb. 8, but did not immediately receive a response.
On Saturday, Feb. 8, protesters gathered outside the American Airlines Center in Dallas, where the Mavericks were facing off against the Houston Rockets, to voice their disapproval over the controversial decision to trade Dončić, 25.
The shocking trade was first announced on Feb. 1, with news that Dončić would be traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in a three-man package — which included sending center Anthony Davis to Dallas.
“I believe that defense wins championships,” Harrison told ESPN on Feb. 1 while discussing the decision. He added: “I believe that getting an All-Defensive center and an All-NBA player with a defensive mindset gives us a better chance. We’re built to win now and in the future.”
Luka Dončić (left) playing at the American Airlines Center in Dallas on Dec. 25, 2024
Many Dallas fans were quick to voice their disapproval of the trade, with one X user writing, “Nico just made one of the worst trades of all time. You do not trade a perennial MVP candidate in their mid 20s under any circumstances. It’s nonsensical and there’s absolutely no justification for what happened. They just went to the FINALS!!!!”
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