Dallas Mavericks have taken the sports world by storm. They recently fired general manager Nico Harrison after receiving loud and sustained protests from the public over his impotent stewardship. Discontent reached a boiling point last month when the Chicago Bulls faced off against the Milwaukee Bucks. As the players on both sides lined up for free throws, fans passionately chanted “Fire Nico!” several times. Since humanizing the coaching change, head coach Jason Kidd has called on fans to “turn the page.”
Unfortunately for Nico Harrison’s tenure as general manager, that moment of joyous optimism would be marred by a growing hostility from Mavericks fans. The chants turned it into a regular occurrence, and players behind the scenes voiced fears about an increasingly dangerous atmosphere. The vibe was pretty electric during a really important time in the game when we were playing Milwaukee. P.J. Washington was fouled on a three-point shot with just 1.2 seconds remaining on the clock. The Mavs just held on to a slim lead. At the other end, Washington took advantage of its chance to equalize at the free-throw line. But he didn’t make the second shot either, continuing to feed fans’ frustrations.
The discontent was evident as chants erupted from the crowd with 7:07 remaining in the fourth quarter. This was not merely a once-in-a-generation occurrence. It occurred time and again, making for a hostile environment for the Mavericks on their home floor. Players came to feel that they were battling their opponents as well as their own fans.
Washington reflected on the incident, calling the fans’ response “kinda disrespectful.” He empathized with the crowd’s frustrations, but noted that it only ratcheted up the pressure at key moments of the game.
Tim MacMahon, the Mavericks’ reporter for ESPNDallas.com, delivered the most vivid account of what went down. He stated that the players were at a disadvantage at home due to the vocal displeasure that the fans were showing. Since 2009, MacMahon has been the driving force behind ESPNDallas.com. Through all of this, he’s made a lasting mark on the coverage of not just the Mavericks, but the Dallas Cowboys.
In light of Harrison’s firing, Jason Kidd recognized the fans’ right to express their opinions but stressed the importance of looking ahead. He emphasized that while fans had “got their point across,” it was time for everyone involved to focus on future opportunities and improvements.
“They got their point across as fans, but we have to move forward.” – Jason Kidd
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