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Tim MacMahon
DALLAS — A day following the dismissal of Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison, head coach Jason Kidd called on the team’s supporters to «move forward» after months of their discontent toward Harrison having overshadowed the atmosphere at home games.
Mavs fans often shouted «Fire Nico!» during games at the American Airlines Center in protest against the surprising early February trade that sent homegrown star Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. Those shouts frequently erupted while a Dallas player was at the free throw line, including several instances in the final quarter of Monday’s defeat to the Milwaukee Bucks.
«It felt somewhat disrespectful,» Kidd remarked ahead of Wednesday’s home matchup against the Phoenix Suns. «The players are giving their all and aiming to win. Having that chant during free throws is quite disrespectful.
«Fans made their feelings known, but now we need to look ahead. I comprehend the fans’ need for closure, but these players are putting in maximum effort. Ever since the trade, they have been fully committed.»
The fans’ resentment toward Harrison was so intense that Mavs players privately voiced concerns that it felt as though they were at a disadvantage on their home turf, sources indicated to ESPN.
«The crowd wasn’t really supporting us,» Mavs forward P.J. Washington stated. «Hopefully, that will change.»
Washington found himself at the free throw line with 7:07 left in the fourth quarter as the Mavs held onto a narrow lead when the chants began Monday night. It recurred when he was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 1.2 seconds remaining, providing him a chance to equalize the score.
Washington missed the second free throw. He has chosen not to blame the distracting chants, yet Washington expressed his dissatisfaction with the negative atmosphere.
«Hopefully, everyone will start cheering now,» Washington said. «And they’ll remain quiet during free throws.»
