The Dallas Mavericks decided to part ways with general manager Nico Harrison on Tuesday, Nov. 11.
The decision came after the team produced a 3-8 start to the NBA season.
A portion of the Mavericks’ fan base has spoken out against Harrison and the front office since the team decided to send superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in a surprising trade that rattled the basketball world in February.
“Fire Nico” chants have been pretty common among fans at American Airlines Center during home games since the deal.
Did ‘Fire Nico’ chants impact Mavericks?
Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd was asked about the impact of the chants heard during games and whether there is any sort of pressure alleviated by (presumably) no longer having to listen to them.
“We can only hope that we don’t have to go through that again because it was a little disrespectful, because the guys are playing hard,” Kidd told reporters during a pregame press conference on Wednesday, Nov. 12. “With that chant during when we’re shooting free throws, it’s very disrespectful. But understanding they got their point across, but we have to move forward.”
Kidd also did not shy away from the team’s rough start to the season.
“We have a lot of guys that are in street clothes,” Kidd said. “We got over, I think, 100 million dollars sitting on the sideline. … I would hope that we start to get a little credit for that, because these guys, they can hear those things and they feel really disrespected.
“It’s hard to keep guys here in this league when they start to think that the home team is not home and becomes a visiting place, and so, hopefully, that changes tonight.”
Forward Anthony Davis has been ruled out for the Mavericks game on Thursday against the Phoenix Suns due to a calf injury.
Guard Kyrie Irving has not played this season as he continues to recover from a torn ACL in his left knee that he suffered in March. He is expected to return to action at some point during the season.