Luka Dončić Reacts to Mavericks GM Firing After Loss to Thunder

OKLAHOMA CITY — After a significant loss, Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić responded to the firing of Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison. Harrison was let go by Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont on Tuesday amid criticism following the team’s 3-8 start this season.

Speaking after the Lakers’ 121-92 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night, Dončić reflected on his feelings for Dallas. “The city of Dallas, the fans, the players, they’ll always have a special place in my heart,” he said. “I thought I was going to stay there forever, but I didn’t. So that will always be a special place for me.”

Dončić was not prepared to comment on a potential return to Dallas now that Harrison is out. “Right now, I’m just focused on the Lakers. No further comments,” he stated.

Harrison orchestrated the controversial trade that sent Dončić to the Lakers last February, which has left many Mavericks fans in disbelief. At the time, Harrison claimed the trade, which included a future first-round pick, gave Dallas a better chance of winning now.

In October, injuries to key players like Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis led to dissatisfaction among fans, resulting in endless calls for Harrison’s dismissal. Dončić was initially shocked by the trade but has since thrived with his new team, averaging 34.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 8.9 assists per game this season.

After a slow night against the Thunder, in which he scored a season-low 19 points, Dončić acknowledged that the team needed to improve. “Definitely wasn’t our best game,” he said, “but they did a great job. It starts with me. I need to be way better than that and just got to figure [it] out.”

The Lakers stand at 8-4 while the Mavericks struggle at the bottom of the Western Conference with a 3-9 record. Dončić mentioned the challenge his team faces in bridging the gap with successful teams like the Thunder. “It’s a big motivation to see how they play and try to stop them,” he noted.