Furious Mark Cuban rages at ‘Fire Nico’ chants before heartfelt embrace with emotional Luka Doncic
Mark Cuban was left with his head in his hands as Dallas Mavericks fans once again chanted for Nico Harrison's firing on Wednesday night.
Just four seconds into Luka Doncic's emotional return to Dallas, thousands inside the American Airlines Center called for the immediate dismissal of the general manager who sent their star to the Los Angeles Lakers.
6
"Fire Nico! Fire Nico," fans demanded, as Doncic dropped 45 points to equal a 60-year Wilt Chamberlain record and lead LA to a 112-97 win.
It's a phrase that has often been heard often in the Dallas area since one of the most shocking deals in NBA history unfolded in February.
The blockbuster move shifted the landscape of the league, and left Shams Charania, the insider who broke the news, shaking as he reported it.
'Fire Nico' has been shouted at every Mavs home game since Doncic's sudden departure, but on the night that he returned, it appeared to cut through more than ever.
MORE FROM BASKETBALL
Cuban, the former principal owner of the team, was sitting courtside as the Slovenian star showed out wearing Lakers purple.
He put his head in his hands as the crowd once again turned their anger towards Harrison, and at one point was seen shaking his head as he stared at the floor.
This, of course, isn't the first time that Cuban has heard those chants inside the arena.
Back in February, days after Doncic's trade to the Lakers, the minority owner sent an x-rated warning to Mavs fans who were ejected for chanting.
Most read in Basketball
He was said to have got into a shouting match with two fans, including one who wore Doncic's Slovenian national team jersey, from his baseline seat.
"Shut the f*** up and sit the f*** down," he yelled at them, later telling ESPN that the pair were shouting while the Mavericks were shooting free throws and again during a critical possession.
6
6
6
While fans have previously been ejected from American Airlines Center for voicing their fury, there was little team officials could do on Wednesday night, with so many joining in.
Harrison spent the game standing in a tunnel near midcourt, mostly out of view.
All he could do was watch on as the 'Fire Nico' chants echoed through the arena.
Cuban, though, did share a warm moment with Doncic after the game ended.
Wearing an Anthony Davis shirt, he was seen embracing the five-time All-Star and giving him a pat on the back.
On an emotionally-charged night in Dallas, the Lakers picked up the win to improve to 49-31 to book their spot in the NBA playoffs.
6
6
Doncic put up a historic performance, as he became the first NBA player since Wilt Chamberlain in 1964-65 to score 45 points for and against the same team in one season.
The 26-year-old scored 45 for the Mavericks in a win over the Golden State Warriors in December, and was then traded to the Lakers in February, before returning to drop 45 on Dallas.
Chamberlain, meanwhile, scored 63 points for the San Francisco Warriors against the Philadelphia 76ers in November of the 1964-1965 season.
He was then traded to the 76ers midway through the year, and scored 48 points in a win over the Cincinnati Royals in March.
Read More on talkSPORT
Tearful Luka Doncic equals stunning Wilt Chamberlain record on dramatic return to Dallas
In the 60 years between the two seasons, no one else had achieved that until Doncic returned to Dallas.
The Mavericks, meanwhile, dropped to 38-42 with another loss and will take on the Toronto Raptors at home once again on Friday.
Topics