Luka Doncic on Mavs firing Nico Harrison: Focused on Lakers

OKLAHOMA CITY – After one of the most lopsided losses of his career, Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic was asked to comment on the orchestrator of what many consider one of the most lopsided trades in league history, the deal that sent him to Los Angeles from the Dallas Mavericks. Nico Harrison, the Dallas president of basketball operations and general manager who first approached Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka with the idea of ​​a trade in January, was fired Tuesday by Mavs Governor Patrick Dumont.

After Los Angeles’ 121-92 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night, Doncic was asked about his reaction to the firing.

“The city of Dallas, the fans, the players, they will always have a special place in my heart,” Doncic said. “I thought I was going to stay there forever, but I didn’t. So, it’s always going to be a special place for me. I’ll always call it home. But right now, I’m focusing on the Lakers and trying to move on. But obviously, there’s always going to be a part of me there.

“But I’m just trying to move forward and focus on what I’m doing here.”

A reporter then asked if Doncic might ever consider returning to play for the Mavericks now that Harrison no longer works for the organization.

“Right now, I’m just focusing on the Lakers,” Doncic said. “No further comments.”

Harrison shocked the basketball world in February when he traded Doncic to the Lakers in a deal centered around Anthony Davis, Max Christie and Los Angeles’ 2029 first-round pick. Maxi Kleber, who was included by the Mavericks in setting the salary list, was also asked about his reaction to the Harrison news after the Lakers’ morning shootaround.

“It’s a quick deal, man,” Kleber said. “Players, general managers, coaches, everyone. So you always have to be ready for the next move.”

Doncic, who was acquired by the Mavericks in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks on draft night in 2018, became the Rookie of the Year and was a five-time All-Star, five-time All-NBA, one-time scoring champion and named MVP of the 2024 Western Conference Finals – all at the age of 25 – with his former team.

He had an electric start for Los Angeles this season – averaging 37.1 points, 9.4 rebounds and 9.1 assists through his first seven games – before struggling mightily against the defending champion Thunder.

Doncic finished with a game-high 19 points on 7-of-20 shooting (1-of-7 from 3-point range), 7 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 turnovers against the Thunder. The Lakers were outscored by 31 points in the 33 minutes Doncic was on the court, and their 30-point deficit at the break was Doncic’s largest halftime deficit in his eight-year career.

“It definitely wasn’t our best game,” Doncic said. “Probably one of the worst this season, but they did a great job. I think they all did a great job on me. They’re champions for a reason, so they showed that today. I think we need to be more ready. Obviously it starts with me. I need to be way better than that and I just need to understand [it] out.”

Oklahoma City improved to a league-best 12-1 record. The Lakers, 1-2 on their current five-game road trip that ends with back-to-backs at New Orleans and Milwaukee, are No. 5 in the West with an 8-4 record.

“It’s not a concern,” Doncic said when asked about the substantial gap between the two teams to start the season. “I think it’s pretty great motivation. … They were champions for a reason and it’s great motivation. They started the year even better. [than last season]I think so. It’s a great motivation to see how they play and try to stop them.”