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HomeDallas Mavericks‘Always, I Can Call It Home’: Luka Dončić Reacts To Nico Harrison Firing, Doesn’t Rule Out Eventual Dallas Mavericks Return
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‘Always, I Can Call It Home’: Luka Dončić Reacts To Nico Harrison Firing, Doesn’t Rule Out Eventual Dallas Mavericks Return

Grant AfsethGrant Afsethno comment
Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA
Photo by David Berding/Getty Images

Luka Dončić said Wednesday night that Dallas will always remain meaningful to him, but he emphasized that his focus is entirely on the Los Angeles Lakers following the Mavericks’ decision to fire general manager Nico Harrison. Dončić, now in his first season with the Lakers after the blockbuster trade that sent him out of Dallas, offered a reflective response to questions about the move.

“Look, I mean, the city of Dallas, fans, players, they’re all have a special place in my heart,” Dončić said. “I thought I was gonna stay there forever. But I didn’t. So they’ll always be a special place for me, always I can call it home. But right now, I’m focused on the Lakers, trying to move on. But obviously, always gonna be part of me in there. Just trying to move on and focus on what we’re doing.”

Asked whether he could envision returning to the Mavericks someday, he declined. “Right now I’m just focused on the Lakers,” he said. “No further comments.”

Dončić also addressed his performance in Wednesday’s loss, where he scored 19 points on 7-for-20 shooting and the Lakers fell to 8–4. It was one of his least efficient outings of the season.

“Definitely wasn’t my best game, probably one of the worst this season,” Dončić said. “But they did a great job. I think Wallace did a great job on me. They’re the champions for a reason, so they showed that today. I think we need to be more ready and it starts with me. I need to be way better than that. Just need to figure it out.”

Despite the off night, Dončić has been one of the league’s most productive players to start the season. Through eight games, he has averaged 34.9 points, 9.1 rebounds and 8.9 assists while shooting 47.6% from the field, 30.8% from three and 77.5% at the free-throw line. His early performances include a 49-point game against Houston and 44 against the Clippers, fueling consistent MVP buzz.

Dallas Mavericks Shift Direction Following Harrison Dismissal

The Mavericks announced Harrison’s firing Tuesday morning, ending a tenure that included a Western Conference Finals appearance and a trip to the NBA Finals. The organization said longtime executive Michael Finley and assistant general manager Matt Riccardi will serve as co-interim general managers while a comprehensive search begins for a permanent replacement.

“This decision reflects our continued commitment to building a championship-caliber organization, one that delivers for our players, our partners, and most importantly, our fans,” team governor Patrick Dumont said.

Harrison’s tenure became defined by the February trade that sent Dončić to Los Angeles in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick — the first midseason swap of two reigning All-NBA players in league history. The controversial move, combined with mounting injuries and roster issues, fueled widespread scrutiny and directly contributed to Dallas’ organizational reset.

Dallas returned to the floor Wednesday and fell 123–114 to the Phoenix Suns, dropping to 3–9 for its worst 12-game start since 2017–18. Klay Thompson hit six 3-pointers and scored 19 points, Brandon Williams had 17, and Cooper Flagg finished with 16.

The Mavericks were again without Davis (left calf strain) and Dereck Lively II (right knee sprain), and P.J. Washington exited after just five minutes with a left shoulder strain as Phoenix pulled away late behind Devin Booker and Grayson Allen.

Los Angeles Lakers Look to Regroup as Luka Dončić Continues MVP Push

While Dallas navigates its front-office upheaval, Los Angeles remains positioned near the top of the Western Conference standings thanks to Dončić’s playmaking and offensive impact.

The Lakers have dramatically improved their transition efficiency, ball movement and scoring tempo, and league analysts have repeatedly noted Dončić’s seamless fit and the revitalized roster chemistry around him. His performances have energized the Lakers early in the season, even as Wednesday’s loss showed the challenges ahead.

Los Angeles visits the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday. Dallas hosts the Los Angeles Clippers.

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Tags :Anthony DavisDallas MavericksLos Angeles LakersLuka DončićMatt RiccardiMichael FinleyNBANBA NewsNico HarrisonOklahoma City Thunder

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Grant Afseth

Grant Afseth

Senior Writer
Grant Afseth is a Senior Writer for DallasHoopsJournal.com, where he leads in-depth coverage of the Mavericks, Wings, and more. Between a focus on the latest news, closer looks at games, front office strategy, and more, Afseth provides objective coverage. Afseth contributes broader NBA coverage across platforms and has been cited in national outlets for his reporting and analysis. With nearly a decade of journalism experience, Afseth has covered the NBA and WNBA for multiple major outlets, including Athlon Sports, BallIsLife, Sportskeeda, and RG.org. He previously reported on the Indiana Pacers for CNHI’s Kokomo Tribune and the Mavericks for FanNation.
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