Dallas Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison, under fire for the blockbuster trade that sent the Slovenian superstar to the Los Angeles Lakers, finally addressed the elephant in the room. His candid admission? He underestimated just how much Doncic meant to the Mavericks fanbase—a miscalculation that continues to reverberate throughout Dallas and the NBA at large.

“I did know that Luka was important to the fan base. I didn’t quite know it to what level,” Harrison admitted, reflecting on the intensity of the backlash. 

“But really, the way we looked at it, is if you’re putting a team on the floor that’s Kyrie, Klay, P.J., Anthony Davis and Lively, we feel that’s a championship caliber team, and we would’ve been winning at a high level and that would have quieted some of the outrage,” he added.

Harrison’s vision was clear for him: double down on defense by acquiring Anthony Davis, one of the NBA’s premier two-way players. But reality hit hard with injuries decimating the Mavericks’ new core—Davis and Irving barely shared the court before both were sidelined.

Doncic’s Lakers Debut: Instant Impact and Historic Feats

Meanwhile, Luka Doncic is not just thriving in Los Angeles—he is already making history. Since the trade, Doncic has turned the Lakers into legitimate contenders, delivering standout performances on the biggest stage. 

In the opening round of the playoffs, he scored 37 points in Game 1 and followed with 31 points in Game 2, becoming only the third player in Lakers history to notch 30+ points in his first two playoff games for the franchise, joining legends George Mikan and Shaquille O’Neal.

Doncic’s impact goes beyond the stat sheet. His leadership and humility have quickly endeared him to Lakers fans and teammates alike. “That’s fine but it don’t matter, we gotta win no matter what. If I have 30 or I have 10, we’ve just got to win. It’s not about players, it’s about team and we’ve just got to win,” Doncic said when told about his achievements.

In Game 2 against Minnesota, Doncic’s 31 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists powered the Lakers to a crucial 94-85 victory, leveling the series and reaffirming his status as one of the league’s elite playoff performers.

The Trade’s Legacy: Regret or Justification?

Harrison continues to defend the trade, insisting it was made with championship aspirations in mind, even if the results have yet to materialize in Dallas. But as Doncic shines in purple and gold, the contrast between the Mavericks’ struggles and the Lakers’ dominance is impossible to ignore.